THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


CNfcrlemagne. 

From  painting  by  D'urtr  in  the  Museum 
at  Nurembtirg. 


xxx        xx*r       jonr        June       Xfx 


THE  LEGENDS  OF 
CHARLEMAGNE 
BY  THOMAS  BUL- 
FINCH 


NEW  YORK 

THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL 

AND   COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


LEGENDS 


CHARLEMAGNE 


ROMANCE  OF  THE  MIDDLE  AGES 


BY 

THOMAS    BULFINCH 

Author  of  "  The  Age  of  Fable,"  "  The  Age  of  Chivalry,"  etc. 


"  How  Agriean  with  all  his  northern  poweri 
Besieged  Albracca,  as  romances  tell; 
The  city  of  Galaphron,  from  thence  to  win 
The  fairest  of  her  sex,  Angelica, 
His  daughter,  loved  of  many  prowest  knights, 
Both  paynim,  and  the  peers  of  Charlemain." 

"  PARADISE  LOST  " 


NEW   YORK 

THOMAS   Y.    CROWELL   &   CO. 
PUBLISHERS 


Collage 


PM 


tfoi 


PREFACE. 


BESIDES  the  education  which  schools  and  colleges 
impart,  there  is  still  another  kind  necessary  to  com- 
pleteness. It  is  that  which  has  for  its  object  a  knowl- 
edge of  polite  literature.  In  the  intercourse  of  polished 
society  a  young  person  will  more  frequently  need  an 
acquaintance  with  the  creations  of  fancy  than  with  the 
discoveries  of  science  or  the  speculations  of  philosophy. 

In  an  age  when  intellectual  darkness  enveloped 
Western  Europe,  a  constellation  of  brilliant  writers 
arose  in  Italy.  Of  these,  Pulci  (born  in  1431), 
Boiardo  (1434),  and  Ariosto  (1474)  took  for  their 
subjects  the  romantic  fables  which  had  for  many  ages 
been  transmitted  in  the  lays  of  bards  and  the  legends 
of  monkish  chroniclers.  These  fables  they  arranged 
in  order,  adorned  with  the  embellishments  of  fancy, 
amplified  from  their  own  invention,  and  stamped  with 
immortality.  It  may  safely  be  asserted  that  as  long 
as  civilization  shall  endure  these  productions  will  re- 
tain their  place  among  the  most  cherished  creations  of 
human  genius. 

In  two  previous  works,  "  The  Age  of  Fable  "  and 
"The  Age  of  Chivalry,"  the  author  of  this  volume 
has  endeavored  to  supply  to  the  modern  reader  such 
knowledge  of  the  fables  of  classical  and  mediaeval  litera- 
ture as  is  needed  to  render  intelligible  the  allusions 
(iii) 


iv  PREFACE. 

which  occur  in  reading  and  conversation.  This  volume 
is  intended  to  carry  out  the  same  design.  Like  its 
predecessors,  it  aspires  to  a  higher  character  than  that 
of  a  work  of  mere  amusement.  It  claims  to  be  useful, 
in  acquainting  its  readers  with  the  subjects  of  the  works 
of  the  great  poets  of  Italy.  Some  knowledge  of  these 
is  expected  of  every  well-educated  young  person. 

In  reading  these  romances,  we  cannot  fail  to  observe 
how  the  primitive  inventions  have  been  used,  again  and 
again,  by  successive  generations  of  fabulists.  The 
Siren  of  Ulysses  is  the  prototype  of  the  Siren  of  Or- 
lando, and  the  character  of  Circe  reappears  in  Alcina. 
The  fountains  of  Love  and  Hatred  may  be  traced  to 
the  story  of  Cupid  and  Psyche  ;  and  similar  effects 
produced  by  a  magic  draught  appear  in  the  tale  of 
Tristram  and  Isoude,  and,  substituting  a  flower  for 
the  draught,  in  Shakespeare's  "  Midsummer  Night's 
Dream."  There  are  many  other  instances  of  the 
same  kind  which  the  reader  will  recognize  without  our 
assistance. 

The  sources  whence  we  derive  these  stories  are, 
first,  the  Italian  poets  named  above  ;  next,  the  "  Ro- 
mans de  Chevalerie  "  of  the  Comte  de  Tressan  ; 
lastly,  certain  German  collections  of  popular  tales. 
Some  chapters  have  been  borrowed  from  Leigh  Hunt's 
Translations  from  the  Italian  Poets.  It  seemed  unnec- 
essary to  do  over  again  what  he  had  already  done  so 
well ;  yet,  r»n  the  other  hand,  those  stories  could  not 
be  omitf  from  the  series  without  leaving  it  incom- 
plete. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 
Introduction  .     vii 


The  Peers,  or  Paladins i 

The  Tournament 1 1 

The  Siege  of  Albracca 22 

Adventures  of  Rinaldo  and  Orlando 35 

The  Invasion  of  France 47 

The  Invasion  of  France.     (Continued.)   ....  58 

Bradamante  and  Rogero 70 

Astolpho  and  the  Enchantress 82 

The  Ore 95 

Astolpho's   Adventures  continued,  and    Isabella's 

begun 104 

Medoro 112 

Orlando    Mad 121 

Zerbino  and  Isabella 131 

Astolpho  in  Abyssinia 142 

The  War  in  Africa 152 

Rogero  and  Bradamante 166 

The  Battle  of  Roncesvalles 182 

Rinaldo  and  Bayard '^     .      .  198 

Death  of  Rinaldo .  205 

Huon  of  Bordeaux 212 

Huon  of  Bordeaux.      (Continued.)      ....  220 

Huon  of  Bordeaux.      (Continued.)    ....  233 

Ogier,  the  Dane _    • 

Ogier,  the  Dane.      (Continued.) •  252 

Ogier,  the  Dane.      (Continued.) 260 

(v) 


INTRODUCTION. 


THOSE  who  have  investigated  the  origin  of  the 
romantic  fables  relating  to  Charlemagne  and  his  peers 
are  of  opinion  that  the  deeds  of  Charles  Martel,  and 
perhaps  of  other  Charleses,  have  been  blended  in  pop- 
ular tradition  with  those  properly  belonging  to  Charle- 
magne. It  was  indeed  a  most  momentous  era  ;  and 
if  our  readers  will  have  patience,  before  entering  on 
the  perusal  of  the  fabulous  annals  which  we  are  about 
to  lay  before  them,  to  take  a  rapid  survey  of  the  real 
history  of  the  times,  they  will  find  it  hardly  less 
romantic  than  the  tales  of  the  poets. 

In  the  century  beginning  from  the  year  600,  the 
countries  bordering  upon  the  native  land  of  our 
Saviour,  to  the  east  and  south,  had  not  yet  received 
his  religion.  Arabia  was  the  seat  of  an  idolatrous 
religion  resembling  that  of  the  ancient  Persians,  who 
worshipped  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars.  In  Mecca,  in 
the  year  571,  Mahomet  was  born,  and  here,  at  the 
age  of  forty,  he  proclaimed  himself  the  prophet  of 
God,  in  dignity  as  superior  to  Christ  as  Christ  had 
been  to  Moses.  Having  obtained  by  slow  degrees  a 
considerable  number  of  disciples,  he  resorted  to  arms 
to  diffuse  his  religion.  The  energy  and  zeal  of  his 
followers,  aided  by  the  weakness  of  the  neighboring 
nations,  enabled  him  and  his  successors  to  spread  the 

(vii) 


viii  INTRODUCTION. 

sway  of  Arabia  and  the  religion  of  Mahomet  over  the 
countries  to  the  east  as  far  as  the  Indus,  northward 
over  Persia  and  Asia  Minor,  westward  ovei  Egypt 
and  the  southern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  and 
thence  over  the  principal  portion  of  Spain.  All  this 
was  done  within  one  hundred  years  from  the  Hegira, 
or  flight  of  Mahomet  from  Mecca  to  Medina,  which 
happened  in  the  year  622,  and  is  the  era  from  which 
Mahometans  reckon  time,  as  we  do  from  the  birth  of 
Christ. 

From  Spain  the  way  was  open  for  the  Saracens  (so 
the  followers  of  Mahomet  were  called)  into  France, 
the  conquest  of  which,  if  achieved,  would  have  been 
followed  very  probably  by  that  of  all  the  rest  of 
Europe,  and  would  have  resulted  in  the  banishment 
of  Christianity  from  the  earth.  For  Christianity  was 
not  at  that  day  universally  professed,  even  by  those 
nations  which  we  now  regard  as  foremost  in  civiliza- 
tion. Great  part  of  Germany,  Britain,  Denmark, 
and  Russia  were  still  pagan  or  barbarous. 

At  that  time  there  ruled  in  France,  though  without 
the  title  of  king,  the  first  of  those  illustrious  Charleses 
of  whom  we  have  spoken,  Charles  Martel,  the  grand- 
father of  Charlemagne.  The  Saracens  of  Spain  had 
made  incursions  into  France  in  712  and  7 1 8,  and 
had  retired,  carrying  with  them  a  vast  booty.  In 
725,  Anbessa,  who  was  then  the  Saracen  governor  of 
Spain,  crossed  the  Pyrenees  with  a  numerous  army, 
and  took  by  storm  the  strong  town  of  Carcassone.  So 
great  was  the  terror  excited  by  this  invasion,  that  the 
country  for  a  wide  extent  submitted  to  the  conqueror, 
and  a  Mahometan  governor  for  the  province  was 
appointed  and  installed  at  Narbonne.  Anbessa,  how- 
ever, received  a  fatal  wound  in  one  of  his  engagements, 


INTRODUCTION.  ix 

and  the  Saracens,  being  thus  checked  from  further 
advance,  retired  to  Narbonne. 

In  732  the  Saracens  again  invaded  France  under 
Abdalrahman,  advanced  rapidly  to  the  banks  of  the 
Garonne,  and  laid  siege  to  Bordeaux.  The  city  was 
taken  by  assault  and  delivered  up  to  the  soldiery.  The 
invaders  still  pressed  forward,  and  spread  over  the 
territories  of  Orleans,  Auxerre,  and  Sens.  Their 
advanced  parties  were  suddenly  called  in  by  their 
chief,  who  had  received  information  of  the  rich  abbey 
of  St.  Martin  of  Tours,  and  resolved  to  plunder  and 
destroy  it. 

Charles  during  all  this  time  had  done  nothing  to 
oppose  the  Saracens,  for  the  reason  that  the  portion 
of  France  over  which  their  incursions  had  been  made 
was  not  at  that  time  under  his  dominion,  but  consti- 
tuted an  independent  kingdom,  under  the  name  of 
Aquitaine,  of  which  Eude  was  king.  But  now 
Charles  became  convinced  of  the  danger,  and  pre- 
pared to  encounter  it.  Abdalrahman  was  advancing 
toward  Tours,  when  intelligence  of  the  approach  of 
Charles,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  Franks,  compelled 
him  to  fall  back  upon  Poitiers,  in  order  to  seize  an 
advantageous  field  of  battle. 

Charles  Martel  had  called  together  his  warriors 
from  every  part  of  his  dominions,  and,  at  the  head  of 
such  an  army  as  had  hardly  ever  been  seen  in  France, 
crossed  the  Loire,  probably  at  Orleans,  and,  being 
joined  by  the  remains  of  the  army  of  Aquitaine,  came 
in  sight  of  the  Arabs  in  the  month  of  October,  732. 
The  Saracens  seem  to  have  been  aware  of  the  terrible 
enemy  they  were  now  to  encounter,  and  for  the  first 
time  these  formidable  conquerors  hesitated.  The  two 
armies  remained  in  presence  during  seven  days  before 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

either  ventured  to  begin  the  attack  ;  but  at  length  the 
signal  for  battle  was  given  by  Abdalrahman,  and  the 
immense  mass  of  the  Saracen  army  rushed  with  fury 
on  the  Franks.  But  the  heavy  line  of  the  Northern 
warriors  remained  like  a  rock,  and  the  Saracens,  dur- 
ing nearly  the  whole  day,  expended  their  strength  in 
vain  attempts  to  make  any  impression  upon  them. 
At  length,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
Abdalrahman  was  preparing  for  a  new  and  desperate 
attempt  to  break  the  line  of  the  Franks,  a  terrible 
clamor  was  heard  in  the  rear  of  the  Saracens.  It  was 
King  Eude,  who,  with  his  Aquitanians,  had  attacked 
their  camp,  and  a  great  part  of  the  Saracen  army 
rushed  tumultuously  from  the  field  to  protect  their 
plunder.  In  this  moment  of  confusion  the  line  of  the 
Franks  advanced,  and,  sweeping  the  field  before  it, 
carried  fearful  slaughter  amongst  the  enemy.  Abdal- 
rahman made  desperate  efforts  to  rally  his  troops,  but 
when  he  himself,  with  the  bravest  of  his  officers,  fell 
beneath  the  swords  of  the  Christians,  all  order  dis- 
appeared, and  the  remains  of  his  army  sought  refuge  in 
their  immense  camp,  from  which  Eude  and  his  Aqui- 
tanians had  been  repulsed.  It  was  now  late,  and 
Charles,  unwilling  to  risk  an  attack  on  the  camp  in  the 
dark,  withdrew  his  army,  and  passed  the  night  in  the 
plain,  expecting  to  renew  the  battle  in  the  morning. 

Accordingly,  when  daylight  came,  the  Franks  drew 
up  in  order  of  battle,  but  no  enemy  appeared  ;  and 
when  at  last  they  ventured  to  approach  the  Saracen 
camp  they  found  it  empty.  The  invaders  had  taken 
advantage  of  the  night  to  begin  their  retreat,  and  were 
already  on  their  way  back  to  Spain,  leaving  their  im- 
mense plunder  behind  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Franks. 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

This  was  the  celebrated  battle  of  Tours,  in  which 
vast  numbers  of  the  Saracens  were  slain,  and  only  fif- 
teen hundred  of  the  Franks.  Charles  received  the 
surname  of  Martel  (the  Hammer)  in  consequence  of 
this  victory. 

The  Saracens,  notwithstanding  this  severe  blow, 
continued  to  hold  their  ground  in  the  south  of  France  ; 
but  Pepin,  the  son  of  Charles  Martel,  who  succeeded 
to  his  father's  power,  and  assumed  the  title  of  king, 
successively  took  from  them  the  strong  places  they 
held  ;  and  in  759,  by  the  capture  of  Narbonne,  their 
capital,  extinguished  the  remains  of  their  power  in 
France. 

Charlemagne,  or  Charles  the  Great,  succeeded  his 
father,  Pepin,  on  the  throne  in  the  year  768.  This 
prince,  though  the  hero  of  numerous  romantic  legends, 
appears  greater  in  history  than  in  fiction.  Whether  we 
regard  him  as  a  warrior  or  as  a  legislator,  as  a  patron 
of  learning  or  as  the  civiliser  of  a  barbarous  nation,  he 
is  entitled  to  our  warmest  admiration.  Such  he  is  in 
history  ;  but  the  romancers  represent  him  as  often 
weak  and  passionate,  the  victim  of  treacherous  coun- 
sellors, and  at  the  mercy  of  turbulent  barons,  on  whose 
prowess  he  depends  for  the  maintenance  of  his  throne. 
The  historical  representation  is  -doubtless  the  true  one, 
for  it  is  handed  down  in  trustworthy  records,  and  is 
confirmed  by  the  events  of  the  age.  At  the  height  of 
his  power,  the  French  empire  extended  over  what  we 
now  call  France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Holland, 
Belgium,  and  great  part  of  Italy. 

In  the  year  800  Charlemagne,  being  in  Rome, 
whither  he  had  gone  with  a  numerous  army  to  pro- 
tect the  Pope,  was  crowned  by  the  Pontiff  Emperor 
of  the  West.  On  Christmas  day  Charles  entered  the 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 

Church  of  St.  Peter,  as  if  merely  to  take  his  part  in 
the  celebration  of  the  mass  with  the  rest  of  the  con- 
gregation. When  he  approached  the  altar  and  stooped 
in  the  act  of  prayer  the  Pope  stepped  forward  and 
placed  a  crown  of  gold  upon  his  head  ;  and  immedi- 
ately the  Roman  people  shouted,  "  Life  and  victory  to 
Charles  the  August,  crowned  by  God  the  great  and 
pacific  E.nperor  of  the  Romans."  The  Pope  then 
prostrated  himself  before  him,  and  paid  him  reverence, 
according  to  the  custom  established  in  the  times  of  the 
ancient  Emperors,  and  concluded  the  ceremony  by 
anointing  him  with  consecrated  oil. 

Charlemagne's  wars  were  chiefly  against  the  pagan 
and  barbarous  people,  who,  under  the  name  of  Saxons, 
inhabited  the  countries  now  called  Hanover  and  Hol- 
land. He  also  led  expeditions  against  the  Saracens  of 
Spain  ;  but  his  wars  with  the  Saracens  were  not  car- 
ried on,  as  the  romances  assert,  in  France,  but  on  the 
soil  of  Spain.  He  entered  Spain  by  the  Eastern  Pyre- 
nees, and  made  an  easy  conquest  of  Barcelona  and 
Pampeluna.  But  Saragossa  refused  to  open  her  gates 
to  him,  and  Charles  ended  by  negotiating  and  accept- 
ing a  vast  sum  of  gold  as  the  price  of  his  return  over 
the  Pyrenees. 

On  his  way  back,  he  marched  with  his  whole  army 
through  the  gorges  of  the  mountains  by  way  of  the 
valleys  of  Engui,  Eno,  and  Roncesvalles.  The  chief 
of  this  region  had  waited  upon  Charlemagne,  on  his 
advance,  as  a  faithful  vassal  of  the  monarchy  ;  but  now, 
on  the  return  of  the  Franks,  he  had  called  together  all 
the  wild  mountaineers  who  acknowledged  him  as  their 
chief,  and  they  occupied  the  heights  of  the  mountains 
under  which  the  army  had  to  pass.  The  main  body 
of  the  troops  met  with  no  obstruction,  and  received  no 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 

intimation  of  danger  ;  but  the  rear-guard,  which  was 
considerably  behind,  and  encumbered  with  its  plunder, 
was  overwhelmed  by  the  mountaineers  in  the  pass  of 
Roncesvalles,  and  slain  to  a  man.  Some  of  the  brav- 
est of  the  Prankish  chiefs  perished  on  this  occasion, 
among  whom  is  mentioned  Roland  or  Orlando,  gov- 
ernor of  the  marches  or  frontier  of  Brittany.  His 
name  became  famous  in  after  times,  and  the  disaster  of 
Roncesvalles  and  death  of  Roland  became  eventually 
the  most  celebrated  episode  in  the  vast  cycle  of  ro- 
mance. 

Though  after  this  there  were  hostile  encounters 
between  the  armies  of  Charlemagne  and  the  Saracens, 
they  were  of  small  account,  and  generally  on  the  soil 
of  Spain.  Thus  the  historical  foundation  for  the  sto- 
ries of  the  romancers  is  but  scanty,  unless  we  suppose 
the  events  of  an  earlier  and  of  a  later  age  to  be  incor- 
porated with  those  of  Charlemagne's  own  time. 

There  is,  however,  a  pretended  history,  which  for 
a  long  time  was  admitted  as  authentic,  and  attributed 
to  Turpin,  Archbishop  of  Rheims,  a  real  personage  of 
the  time  of  Charlemagne.  Its  title  is  "  History  of 
Charles  the  Great  and  Orlando."  It  is  now  unhesi- 
tatingly considered  as  a  collection  of  popular  traditions, 
produced  by  some  credulous  and  unscrupulous  monk, 
who  thought  to  give  dignity  to  his  romance  by  ascrib- 
ing its  authorship  to  a  well-known  and  eminent  indi- 
vidual. It  introduces  its  pretended  author,  Bishop 
Turpin,  in  this  manner  : 

' '  Turpin,  Archbishop  of  Rheims,  the  friend  and 
secretary  of  Charles  the  Great,  excellently  skilled  in 
sacred  and  profane  literature,  of  a  genius  equally 
adapted  to  prose  and  verse,  the  advocate  of  the  poor, 
beloved  of  God  in  his  life  and  conversation,  who  often 


xiv  INTRODUCTION. 

fought  the  Saracens,  hand  to  hand,  by  the  Emperor's 
side,  he  relates  the  acts  of  Charles  the  Great  in  one 
book,  and  flourished  under  Charles  and  his  son  Louis, 
to  the  year  of  our  Lord  eight  hundred  and  thirty." 

The  titles  of  some  of  Archbishop  Turpin's  chapters 
will  show  the  nature  of  his  history.  They  are  these  : 
"  Of  the  Walls  of  Pampeluna,  that  fell  of  themselves." 
"  Of  the  War  of  the  holy  Facundus,  where  the  Spears 
grew."  (Certain  of  the  Christians  fixed  their  spears, 
in  the  evening,  erect  in  the  ground,  before  the  castle  ; 
and  found  them,  in  the  morning,  covered  with  bark 
and  branches.)  "  How  the  Sun  stood  still  for  Three 
Days,  and  of  the  Slaughter  of  Four  Thousand  Sara- 
cens." 

Turpin's  history  has  perhaps  been  the  source  of  the 
marvellous  adventures  which  succeeding  poets  and 
romancers  have  accumulated  around  the  names  of 
Charlemagne  and  his  Paladins,  or  Peers.  But  Ariosto 
and  the  other  Italian  poets  have  drawn  from  different 
sources,  and  doubtless  often  from  their  own  invention, 
numberless  other  stories  which  they  attribute  to  the 
same  heroes,  not  hesitating  to  quote  as  their  authority 
"the  good  Turpin, "  though,  his  history  contains  no 
trace  of  them  ;  and  the  more  outrageous  the  im- 
probability, or  rather  the  impossibility,  of  their  narra- 
tions, the  more  attentive  are  they  to  cite  "  the  Arch- 
bishop," generally  adding  their  testimonial  to  his 
unquestionable  veracity. 

The  principal  Italian  poets  who  have  sung  the  ad- 
ventures of  the  peers  of  Charlemagne  are  Pulci,  Boi- 
ardo,  and  Ariosto.  The  characters  of  Orlando, 
Rinaldo,  Astolpho,  Gano,  and  others,  are  the  same  in 
all,  though  the  adventures  attributed  to  them  are  differ- 
ent. Boiardo  tells  us  of  the  loves  of  Orlando,  Ariosto 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

of  his  disappointment  and  consequent  madness,  Pulci 
of  his  death. 

Ogier,  the  Dane,  is  a  real  personage.  History 
agrees  with  romance  in  representing  him  as  a  powerful 
lord  who,  originally  from  Denmark  and  a  Pagan,  em- 
braced Christianity,  and  took  service  under  Charle- 
magne. He  revolted  from  the  Emperor,  and  was 
driven  into  exile.  He  afterwards  led  one  of  those 
bands  of  piratical  Northmen  which  ravaged  France 
under  the  reigns  of  Charlemagne's  degenerate  success- 
ors. The  description  which  an  ancient  chronicler 
gives  of  Charlemagne,  as  described  by  Ogier,  is  so 
picturesque,  that  we  are  tempted  to  transcribe  it. 
Charlemagne  was  advancing  to  the  siege  of  Pavia. 
Didier,  King  of  the  Lombards,  was  in  the  city  with 
Ogier,  to  whom  he  had  given  refuge.  When  they 
learned  that  the  king  was  approaching  they  mounted 
a  high  tower,  whence  they  could  see  far  and  wide 
over  the  country.  "  They  first  saw  advancing  the 
engines  of  war,  fit  for  the  armies  of  Darius  or  Julius 
Caesar.  '  There  is  Charlemagne,'  said  Didier. 
'  No,'  said  Ogier.  The  Lombard  next  saw  a  vast 
body  of  soldiers,  who  filled  all  the  plain.  «  Certainly 
Charles  advanced  with  that  host,'  said  the  king. 
'  Not  yet, '  replied  Ogier.  <  What  hope  for  us, '  re- 
sumed the  king,  '  if  he  brings  with  him  a  greater  host 
than  that  ?  '  At  last  Charles  appeared,  his  head  cov- 
ered with  an  iron  helmet,  his  hands  with  iron  gloves, 
his  breast  and  shoulders  with  a  cuirass  of  iron,  his  left 
hand  holding  an  iron  lance,  while  his  right  hand 
grasped  his  sword.  Those  who  went  before  the  mon- 
arch, those  who  marched  at  his  side,  and  those  who 
followed  him,  all  had  similar  arms.  Iron  covered  the 
fields  and  the  roads  j  iron  points  reflected  the  rays  of 


xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

the  sun.  This  iron,  so  hard,  was  borne  by  a  people 
whose  hearts  were  harder  still.  The  blaze  of  the 
weapons  flashed  terror  into  the  streets  of  the  city." 

This  picture  of  Charlemagne  in  his  military  aspect 
would  be  incomplete  without  a  corresponding  one  of 
his  "  mood  of  peace."  One  of  the  greatest  of  mod- 
ern historians,  M.  Guizot,  has  compared  the  glory  of 
Charlemagne  to  a  brilliant  meteor,  rising  suddenly  out 
of  the  darkness  of  barbarism  to  disappear  no  less  sud- 
denly in  the  darkness  of  feudalism.  But  the  light  of 
this  meteor  was  not  extinguished,  and  reviving  civili- 
zation owed  much  that  was  permanently  beneficial  to 
the  great  Emperor  of  the  Franks.  His  ruling  hand  is 
seen  in  the  legislation  of  his  time,  as  well  as  in  the 
administration  of  the  laws.  He  encouraged  learning  ; 
he  upheld  the  clergy,  who  were  the  only  peaceful  and 
intellectual  class,  against  the  encroaching  and  turbulent 
barons  ;  he  was  an  affectionate  father,  and  watched 
carefully  over  the  education  of  his  children,  both  sons 
and  daughters.  Of  his  encouragement  of  learning  we 
will  give  some  particulars. 

He  caused  learned  men  to  be  brought  from  Italy 
and  from  other  foreign  countries  to  revive  the  public 
schools  of  France,  which  had  been  prostrated  by  the 
disorders  of  preceding  times.  He  recompensed  these 
learned  men  liberally,  and  kept  some  of  them  near 
himself,  honoring  them  with  his  friendship.  Of  these 
the  most  celebrated  is  Alcuin,  an  Englishman,  whose 
writings  still  remain,  and  prove  him  to  have  been  both 
a  learned  and  a  wise  man.  With  the  assistance  of 
Alcuin,  and  others  like  him,  he  founded  an  academy 
or  royal  school,  which  should  have  the  direction  of  the 
studies  of  all  the  schools  of  the  kingdom.  Charle- 
magne himself  was  a  member  of  this  academy  on  equal 


INTRODUCTION.  xvii 

terms  with  the  rest.  He  attended  its  meetings,  and 
fulfilled  all  the  duties  of  an  academician.  Each  mem- 
ber took  the  name  of  some  famous  man  of  antiquity. 
Alcuin  called  himself  Horace,  another  took  the  name 
of  Augustin,  a  third  of  Pindar.  Charlemagne,  who 
knew  the  Psalms  by  heart,  and  who  had  an  ambition 
to  be,  according  to  his  conception,  a  king  after  God's 
own  heart,  received  from  his  brother  academicians  the 
name  of  David. 

Of  the  respect  entertained  for  him  by  foreign  nations 
an  interesting  proof  is  afforded  in  the  embassy  sent  to 
him  by  the  Caliph  of  the  Arabians,  the  celebrated 
Haroun  al  Raschid,  a  prince  in  character  and  conduct 
not  unlike  to  Charlemagne.  The  ambassadors  brought 
with  them,  besides  other  rich  presents,  a  clock,  the 
first  that  was  seen  in  Europe,  which  excited  universal 
admiration.  It  had  the  form  of  a  twelve-sided  edifice 
with  twelve  doors.  These  doors  formed  niches,  in 
each  of  which  was  a  little  statue  representing  one  of 
the  hours.  At  the  striking  of  the  hour  the  doors,  one 
for  each  stroke,  were  seen  to  open,  and  from  the 
doors  to  issue  as  many  of  the  little  statues,  which,  fol- 
lowing one  another,  marched  gravely  round  the  tower. 
The  motion  of  the  clock  was  caused  by  water,  and 
the  striking  was  effected  by  balls  of  brass  equal  to  the 
number  of  the  hours,  which  fell  upon  a  cymbal  of  the 
same  metal,  the  number  falling  being  determined  by 
the  discharge  of  the  water,  which,  as  it  sunk  in  the 
vessel,  allowed  their  escape. 

Charlemagne  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Louis,  a 
well-intentioned  but  feeble  prince,  in  whose  reign  the 
fabric  reared  by  Charles  began  rapidly  to  crumble. 
Louis  was  followed  successively  by  two  Charleses, 
incapable  princes,  whose  weak  and  often  tyrannical 


xviii  INTRODUCTION. 

conduct  is   no  doubt   the  source   of  incidents  of  that 
character  ascribed  in  the  romances  to  Charlemagne. 

The  lawless  and  disobedient  deportment  of  Charles's 
paladins,  instances  of  which  are  so  frequent  in  the 
romantic  legends,  was  also  a  trait  of  the  declining 
empire,  but  not  of  that  of  Charlemagne. 


LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 


THE    PEERS,    OR    PALADINS. 

THE  twelve  most  illustrious  knights  of  Charlemagne 
were  called  Peers,  for  the  equality  that  reigned  among 
them  ;  while  the  name  of  Paladins,  also  conferred  on 
them,  implies  that  they  were  inmates  of  the  palace  and 
companions  of  the  king.  Their  names  are  always 
given  alike  by  the  romancers,  yet  we  may  enumerate 
the  most  distinguished  of  them  as  follows  :  Orlando  or 
Roland  (the  former  the  Italian,  the  latter  the  French 
form  of  the  name),  favorite  nephew  of  Charlemagne  ; 
Rinaldo  of  Montalban,  cousin  of  Orlando  ;  Namo, 
Duke  of  Bavaria  ;  Salomon,  King  of  Brittany  ;  Turpin, 
the  Archbishop  ;  Astolpho,  of  England  ;  Ogier,  the 
Dane  ;  Malagigi,  the  Enchanter  ;  and  Florismart,  the 
friend  of  Orlando.  There  were  others  who  are  some- 
times named  as  paladins,  and  the  number  cannot  be 
strictly  limited  to  twelve.  Charlemagne  himself  must 
be  counted  one,  and  Ganelon,  or  Gano,  of  Mayence, 
the  treacherous  enemy  of  all  the  rest,  was  rated  high 
on  the  list  by  his  deluded  sovereign,  who  was  com- 
pletely the  victim  of  his  arts. 

We  shall  introduce  more  particularly  to  our  readers 
a  few  of  the  principal  peers,  leaving  the  others  to  make 


2  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

their  own  introduction  as  they  appear  in  the  course  of 
our  narrative.      We  begin  with  Orlando. 

ORLANDO. 

Milon,  or  Milone,  a  knight  of  great  family,  and  dis- 
tantly related  to  Charlemagne,  having  secretly  married 
Bertha,  the  Emperor's  sister,  was  banished  from  France, 
and  excommunicated  by  the  Pope.  After  a  long  and 
miserable  wandering  on  foot  as  mendicants  Milon  and 
his  wife  arrived  at  Sutri,  in  Italy,  where  they  took 
refuge  in  a  cave,  and  in  that  cave  Orlando  was  born. 
There  his  mother  continued,  deriving  a  scanty  support 
from  the  compassion  of  the  neighboring  peasants  ;  while 
Milon,  in  quest  of  honor  and  fortune,  went  into  foreign 
lands.  Orlando  grew  up  among  the  children  of  the 
peasantry,  surpassing  them  all  in  strength  and  manly 
graces.  Among  his  companions  in  age,  though  in 
station  far  more  elevated,  was  Oliver,  son  of  the  governor 
of  the  town.  Between  the  two  boys  a  feud  arose  that 
led  to  a  fight,  in  which  Orlando  thrashed  his  rival  ;  but 
this  did  not  prevent  a  friendship  springing  up  between 
the  two,  which  lasted  through  life. 

Orlando  was  so  poor  that  he  was  sometimes  half 
naked.  As  he  was  a  favorite  of  the  boys,  one  day  four 
of  them  brought  some  cloth  to  make  him  clothes.  Two 
brought  white  and  two  red  ;  and  from  this  circum- 
stance Orlando  took  his  coat-of-arms,  or  quartering!. 

When  Charlemagne  was  on  his  way  to  Rome  to 
receive  the  imperial  crown  he  dined  in  public  in  Sutri. 
Orlando  and  his  mother  that  day  had  nothing  to  eat, 
and  Orlando  coming  suddenly  upon  the  royal  party, 
and  seeing  abundance  of  provisions,  seized  from  the 
attendants  as  much  as  he  could  carry  off,  and  made 


THE    PEERS,    OR   PALADINS.  3 

good  his  retreat  in  spite  of  their  resistance.  The  Em- 
peror, being  told  of  this  incident,  was  reminded  of  an 
intimation  he  had  received  in  a  dream,  and  ordered  the 
boy  to  be  followed.  This  was  done  by  three  of  the 
knights,  whom  Orlando  would  have  encountered  with 
a  cudgel  on  their  entering  the  grotto,  had  not  his  mother 
restrained  him.  When  they  heard  from  her  who  she 
was  they  threw  themselves  at  her  feet,  and  promised  to 
obtain  her  pardon  from  the  Emperor.  This  was  easily 
effected.  Orlando  was  received  into  favor  by  the  Em- 
peror, returned  with  him  to  France,  and  so  distin- 
guished himself  that  he  became  the  most  powerful 
support  of  the  throne  and  of  Christianity.1 


ROLAND    AND    FERRAGUS. 

Orlando,  or  Roland,  particularly  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  combat  with  Ferragus.  Ferragus  was  a 
giant,  and  moreover  his  skin  was  of  such  impenetrable 
stuff  that  no  sword  could  make  any  impression  upon  it. 
The  giant's  mode  of  fighting  was  to  seize  his  adversary 
in 'his  arms  and  carry  him  off,  in  spite  of  all  the 
struggles  he  could  make.  Roland's  utmost  skill  only 
availed  to  keep  him  out  of  the  giant's  clutches,  but  all 
his  efforts  to  wound  him  with  the  sword  were  useless. 
After  long  fighting  Ferragus  was  so  weary  that  he 
proposed  a  truce,  and  when  it  was  agreed  upon  he 
lay  down  and  immediately  fell  asleep.  He  slept  in 
perfect  security,  for  it  was  against  all  the  laws  of 
chivalry  to  take  advantage  of  an  adversary  under  such 

1  It  is  plain  that  Shakespeare  borrowed  from  this  source  the 
similar  incident  in  his  "  As  you  Like  it."  The  names  of  char- 
acters in  the  play,  Orlando,  Oliver,  Rowland,  indicate  the  same 
thing. 


4  LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

circumstances.  But  Ferragus  lay  so  uncomfortably  for 
the  want  of  a  pillow  that  Orlando  took  pity  upon  him, 
and  brought  a  smooth  stone  and  placed  it  under  his 
head.  When  the  giant  woke  up,  after  a  refreshing 
nap,  and  perceived  what  Orlando  had  done,  he  seemed 
quite  grateful,  became  sociable,  and  talked  freely  in  the 
usual  boastful  style  of  such  characters.  Among  other 
things  he  told  Orlando  that  he  need  not  attempt  to 
kill  him  with  a  sword,  for  that  every  part  of  his  body 
was  invulnerable,  except  this  ;  and  as  he  spoke,  he 
put  his  hand  to  the  vital  parr,  just  in  the  middle  of  his 
breast.  Aided  by  this  information  Orlando  succeeded, 
when  the  fight  was  renewed,  in  piercing  the  giant  in 
the  very  spot  he  had  pointed  out,  and  giving  him  a 
death-wound.  Great  was  the  rejoicing  in  the  Christian 
camp,  and  many  the  praises  showered  upon  the  victo- 
rious paladin  by  the  Emperor  and  all  his  host. 

On  another  occasion  Orlando  encountered  a  puis- 
sant Saracen  warrior,  and  took  from  him,  as  the  prize 
of  victory,  the  sword  Durindana.  This  famous  weapon 
had  once  belonged  to  the  illustrious  prince  Hector  of 
Troy.  It  was  of  the  finest  workmanship,  and  of  such 
strength  and  temper  that  no  armor  in  the  world  could 
stand  against  it. 

A    ROLAND    FOR     AN    OLIVER. 

Guerin  de  Montglave  held  the  lordship  of  Vienne, 
subject  to  Charlemagne.  He  had  quarrelled  with  his 
sovereign,  and  Charles  laid  siege  to  his  city,  having 
ravaged  the  neighboring  country.  Guerin  was  an 
aged  warrior,  but  relied  for  his  defence  upon  his  four 
sons  and  two  grandsons,  who  were  among  the  bravest 
knights  of  the  age.  After  the  siege  had  continued  two 
months  Charlemagne  received  tidings  that  Marsilius, 


THE    PEERS,    OR    PALADINS.  5 

king  of  Spain,  had  invaded  France,  and,  finding  him- 
self unopposed,  was  advancing  rapidly  in  the  Southern 
provinces.  At  this  intelligence  Charles  listened  to  the 
counsel  of  his  peers,  and  consented  to  put  the  quarrel 
with  Guerin  to  the  decision  of  Heaven,  by  single  com- 
bat between  two  knights,  one  of  each  party,  selected 
by  lot.  The  proposal  was  acceptable  to  Guerin  and 
his  sons.  The  names  of  the  four,  together  with 
Guerin's  own,  who  would  not  be  excused,  and  of  the 
two  grandsons,  who  claimed  their  lot,  being  put  into 
a  helmet,  Oliver's  was  drawn  forth,  and  to  him,  the 
youngest  of  the  grandsons,  was  assigned  the  honor  and 
the  peril  of  the  combat.  He  accepted  the  award  with 
delight,  exulting  in  being  thought  worthy  to  maintain 
the  cause  of  his  family.  On  Charlemagne's  side  Ro- 
land was  the  designated  champion,  and  neither  he  nor 
Oliver  knew  who  his  antagonist  was  to  be. 

They  met  on  an  island  in  the  Rhone,  and  the  war- 
riors of  6oth  camps  were  ranged  on  either  shore,  spec- 
tators of  the  battle.  At  the  first  encounter  both  lances 
were  shivered,  but  both  riders  kept  their  seats,  immov- 
able. They  dismounted,  and  drew  their  swords. 
Then  ensued  a  combat  which  seemed  so  equal,  that 
the  spectators  could  not  form  an  opinion  as  to  the 
probable  issue.  Two  hours  and  more  the  knights  con- 
tinued to  strike  and  parry,  to  thrust  and  ward,  neither 
showing  any  sign  of  weariness,  nor  ever  being  taken 
at  unawares.  At  length  Orlando  struck  furiously  upon 
Oliver's  shield,  burying  Durindana  in  its  edge  so 
deeply  that  he  could  not  draw  it  back,  and  Oliver, 
almost  at  the  same  moment,  thrust  so  vigorously  upon 
Orlando's  breastplate  that  his  sword  snapped  off  at  the 
handle.  Thus  were  the  two  warriors  left  weaponless. 
Scarcely  pausing  a  moment,  they  rushed  upon  one 


6  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

another,  each  striving  to  throw  his  adversary  to  the 
ground,  and  failing  in  that,  each  snatched  at  the  other's 
helmet  to  tear  it  away.  Both  succeeded,  and  at  the 
same  moment  they  stood  bareheaded  face  to  face,  and 
Roland  recognized  Oliver,  and  Oliver  Roland.  For 
a  moment  they  stood  still  ;  and  the  next,  with  open 
arms,  rushed  into  one  another's  embrace.  "  I  am 
conquered,"  said  Orlando.  "  I  yield  me,"  said 
Oliver. 

The  people  on  the  shore  knew  not  what  to  make 
of  all  this.  Presently  they  saw  the  two  late  antago- 
nists standing  hand  in  hand,  and  it  was  evident  the 
battle  was  at  an  end.  The  knights  crowded  round 
them,  and  with  one  voice  hailed  them  as  equals  in 
glory.  If  there  were  any  who  felt  disposed  to  mur- 
mur that  the  battle  was  left  undecided  they  were 
silenced  by  the  voice  of  Ogier  the  Dane,  who  pro- 
claimed aloud  that  all  had  been  done  that  honor  re- 
quired, and  declared  that  he  would  maintain  that  award 
against  ali  gainsayers. 

The  quarrel  with  Guerin  and  his  sons  being  left  un- 
decided, a  truce  was  made  for  four  days,  and  in  that 
time,  by  the  efforts  of  Duke  Namo  on  the  one  side, 
and  of  Oliver  on  the  other,  a  reconciliation  was  effected. 
Charlemagne,  accompanied  by  Guerin  and  his  valiant 
family,  marched  to  meet  Marsilius,  who  hastened  to 
retreat  across  the  frontier. 


RINALDO. 

Rinaldo  was  one  of  the  four  sons  of  Aymon,  who 
married  Aya,  the  sister  of  Charlemagne.  Thus  Rinaldo 
was  nephew  to  Charlemagne  and  cousin  of  Orlando. 

When    Rinaldo  had  grown  old  enough  to   assume 


THE    PEERS,    OR   PALADINS.  7 

arms  Orlando  had  won  for  himself  an  illustrious  name 
by  his  exploits  against  the  Saracens,  whom  Charle- 
magne and  his  brave  knights  had  driven  out  of  France. 
Orlando's  fame  excited  a  noble  emulation  in  Rinaldo. 
Eager  to  go  in  pursuit  of  glory,  he  wandered  in  the 
country  near  Paris,  and  one  day  saw  at  the  foot  of  a 
tree  a  superb  horse,  fully  equipped  and  loaded  with  a 
complete  suit  of  armor.  Rinaldo  clothed  himself  in  the 
armor  and  "mounted  the  horse,  but  took  not  the  sword. 
On  the  day  when,  with  his  brothers,  he  had  received 
the  honor  of  knighthood  from  the  Emperor  he  had 
sworn  never  to  bind  a  sword  to  his  side  till  he  had 
wrested  one  from  some  famous  knight. 

Rinaldo  took  his  way  to  the  forest  of  Arden,  cele- 
brated for  so  many  adventures.  Hardly  had  he  entered 
it  when  he  met  an  old  man,  bending  under  the  weight 
of  years,  and  learned  from  him  that  the  forest  was  in- 
fested with  a  wild  horse,  untamable,  that  broke  and 
overturned  everything  that  opposed  his  career.  To 
attack  him,  he  said,  or  even  to  meet  him,  was  certain 
death.  Rinaldo,  far  from  being  alarmed,  showed  the 
most  eager  desire  to  combat  the  animal.  This  was 
the  horse  Bayard,  afterward  so  famous.  He  had  for- 
merly belonged  to  Amadis  of  Gaul.  After  the  death 
of  that  hero  he  had  been  held  under  enchantment  by 
the  power  of  a  magician,  who  predicted  that,  when 
the  time  came  to  break  the  spell,  he  should  be  subdued 
by  a  knight  of  the  lineage  of  Amadis,  and  not  less 
brave  than  he. 

To  win  this  wonderful  horse  it  was  necessary  to 
conquer  him  by  force  or  skill  ;  for  from  the  moment 
when  he  should  be  thrown  down  he  would  become 
docile  and  manageable.  His  habitual  resort  was  a  cave 
on  the  borders  of  the  forest  ;  but  woe  be  to  any  one 


8  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

who  should  approach  him,  unless  gifted  with  strength 
and  courage  more  than  mortal.  Having  told  this,  the 
old  man  departed.  He  was  not,  in  fact,  an  old  man, 
but  Malagigi,  the  enchanter,  cousin  of  Rinaldo,  who, 
to  favor  the  enterprises  of  the  young  knight,  had  pro- 
cured for  him  the  horse  and  armor  which  he  so  oppor- 
tunely found,  and  now  put  him  in  the  way  to  acquire 
a  horse  unequalled  in  the  world. 

Rinaldo  plunged  into  the  forest,  and  spent  many 
days  in  seeking  Bayard,  but  found  no  traces  of  him. 
One  day  he  encountered  a  Saracen  knight,  with  whom 
he  made  acquaintance,  as  often  happened  to  knights, 
by  first  meeting  him  in  combat.  This  knight,  whose 
name  was  Isolier,  was  also  in  quest  of  Bayard.  Ri- 
naldo succeeded  in  the  encounter,  and  so  severe  was 
the  shock  that  Isolier  was  a  long  time  insensible.  When 
he  revived,  and  was  about  to  resume  the  contest,  a 
peasant  who  passed  by  (it  was  Malagigi)  interrupted 
them  with  the  news  that  the  terrible  horse  was  near  at 
hand,  advising  them  to  unite  their  powers  to  subdue 
him,  for  it  would  require  all  their  ability. 

Rinaldo  and  Isolier,  now  become  friends,  proceeded 
together  to  the  attack  of  the  horse.  They  found  Bay- 
ard, and  stood  a  long  time,  concealed  by  the  wood, 
admiring  his  strength  and  beauty. 

A  bright  bay  in  color  (whence  he  was  called  Bay- 
ard), with  a  silver  star  in  his  forehead,  and  his  hind 
feet  white,  his  body  slender,  his  head  delicate,  his 
ample  chest  filled  out  with  swelling  muscles,  his  shoul- 
ders broad  and  full,  his  legs  straight  and  sinewy,  his 
thick  mane  falling  over  his  arching  neck,  —  he  came 
rushing  through  the  forest,  regardless  of  rocks,  bushes, 
or  trees,  rending  everything  that  opposed  his  way,  and 
neighing  defiance. 


THE    PEERS,    OR    PALADINS.  9 

He  first  descried  Isolier,  and  rushed  upon  him. 
The  knight  received  him  with  lance  in  rest,  but  the 
fierce  animal  broke  the  spear,  and  his  course  was  not 
delayed  by  it  for  an  instant.  The  Spaniard  adroitly 
stepped  aside,  and  gave  way  to  the  rushing  tempest. 
Bayard  checked  his  career,  and  turned  again  upon  the 
knight,  who  had  already  drawn  his  sword.  He  drew 
his  sword,  for  he  had  no  hope  of  taming  the  horse  ; 
that,  he  was  satisfied,  was  impossible. 

Bayard  rushed  upon  him,  fiercely  rearing,  now  on 
this  side,  now  on  that.  The  knight  struck  him  with 
his  sword,  where  the  white  star-  adorned  his  forehead, 
but  struck  in  vain,  and  felt  ashamed,  thinking  that  he 
had  struck  feebly,  for  he  did  not  know  that  the  skin  of 
that  horse  was  so  tough  that  the  keenest  sword  could 
make  no  impression  upon  it. 

Whistling  fell  the  sword  once  more,  and  struck  with 
greater  force,  and  the  fierce  horse  felt  it,  and  drooped 
his  head  under  the  blow,  but  the  next  moment  turned 
upon  his  foe  with  such  a  buffet  that  the  Pagan  fell 
stunned  and  lifeless  to  the  earth. 

Rinaldo,  who  saw  Isolier  fall,  and  thought  that  his 
life  was  reft,  darted  towards  the  horse,  and,  with  his 
fist  gave  him  such  a  blow  on  the  jaws  that  the  blood 
tinged  his  mouth  with  vermilion.  Quicker  than  an 
arrow  leaves  the  bow  the  horse  turned  upon  him,  and 
tried  to  seize  his  arm  with  his  teeth. 

The  knight  stepped  back,  and  then,  repeating  his 
blow,  struck  him  on  the  forehead.  Bayard  turned, 
and  kicked  with  both  his  feet  with  a  force  that  would 
have  shattered  a  mountain.  Rinaldo  was  on  his  guard, 
and  evaded  his  attacks,  whether  made  with  head  or 
heels.  He  kept  at  his  side  avoiding  both  ;  but,  mak- 
ing a  false  step,  he  at  last  received  a  terrible  blow  from 


10  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

the  horse's  foot,  and  at  the  shock  almost  fainted  away. 
A  second  such  blow  would  have  killed  him,  but  the 
horse  kicked  at  random,  and  a  second  blow  did  not 
reach  Rinaldo,  who  in  a  moment  recovered  himself. 
Thus  the  contest  continued  until  by  chance  Bayard's 
foot  got  caught  between  the  branches  of  an  oak. 
Rinaldo  seized  it  and  putting  forth  all  his  strength  and 
address,  threw  him  on  the  ground. 

No  sooner  had  Bayard  touched  the  ground  than  all 
his  rage  subsided.  No  longer  an  object  of  terror,  he 
became  gentle  and  quiet,  yet  with  dignity  in  his  mild- 
ness. 

The  paladin  patted  his  neck,  stroked  his  breast,  and 
smoothed  his  mane,  while  the  animal  neighed  and 
showed  delight  to  be  caressed  by  his  master.  Rinaldo, 
seeing  him  now  completely  subdued,  took  the  saddle 
and  trappings  from  the  other  horse,  and  adorned  Bay- 
ard with  the  spoils. 

Rinaldo  became  one  of  the  most  illustrious  knights 
of  Charlemagne's  court,  —  indeed,  the  most  illustrious, 
if  we  except  Orlando.  Yet  he  was  not  always  so  obe- 
dient to  the  Emperor's  commands  as  he  should  have 
been,  and  every  fault  he  committed  was  sure  to  be 
aggravated  by  the  malice  of  Gan,  Duke  of  Maganza, 
the  treacherous  enemy  of  Rinaldo  and  all  his  house. 

At  one  time  Rinaldo  had  incurred  the  severe  dis- 
pleasure of  Charlemagne,  and  been  banished  from 
court.  Seeing  no  chance  of  being  ever  restored  to 
favor,  he  went  to  Spain,  and  entered  into  the  service 
of  the  Saracen  king,  Ivo.  His  brothers,  Alardo, 
Ricardo,  and  Ricciardetto,  accompanied  him,  and  all 
four  served  the  king  so.  faithfully  that  they  rose  to 
high  favor  with  him.  The  king  gave  them  land  in 
the  mountains  on  the  frontiers  of  France  and  Spain, 


THE   TOURNAMENT.  II 

and  subjected  all  the  country  round  to  Rinaldo's 
authority.  There  was  plenty  of  marble  in  the  moun- 
tains, the  king  furnished  workmen,  and  they  built  a 
castle  for  Rinaldo,  surrounded  with  high  walls,  so  as 
to  be  almost  impregnable.  Built  of  white  stone,  and 
placed  on  the  brow  of  a  marble  promontory,  the  castle 
shone  like  a  star,  and  Rinaldo  gave  it  the  name  of 
Montalban.  Here  he  assembled  his  friends,  many  of 
whom  were  banished  men  like  himself,  and  the  coun- 
try people  furnished  them  with  provisions  in  return 
for  the  protection  the  castle  afforded.  Yet  some  of 
Rinaldo's  men  were  lawless,  and  sometimes  the  sup- 
plies were  not  furnished  in  sufficient  abundance,  so 
that  Rinaldo  and  his  garrison  got  a  bad  name  for  taking 
by  force  what  they  could  not  obtain  by  gift  ;  and  we 
sometimes  find  Montalban  spoken  of  as  a  nest  of  free- 
booters, and  its  defenders  called  a  beggarly  garrison. 

Charlemagne's  displeasure  did  not  last  long,  and,  at 
the  time  our  history  commences,  Rinaldo  and  his 
brothers  were  completely  restored  to  the  favor  of  the 
Emperor,  and  none  of  his  cavaliers  served  him  with 
greater  zeal  and  fidelity  than  they,  throughout  all  his 
wars  with  the  Saracens  and  Pagans. 


THE   TOURNAMENT. 

IT  was  the  month  of  May,  and  the  feast  of  Pente- 
cost. Charlemagne  had  ordered  magnificent  festivities, 
ind  summoned  to  them,  besides  his  paladins  and  vas- 
sals of  the  crown,  all  strangers,  Christian  or  Saracen, 
then  sojourning  at  Paris.  Among  the  guests  were 
King  Grandonio,  from  Spain  ;  and  Ferrau,  the  Sara- 


12  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

cen,  with  eyes  like  an  eagle  ;  Orlando  and  Rinaldo, 
the  Emperor's  nephews  ;  Duke  Namo  ;  Astolpho,  of 
England,  the  handsomest  man  living  ;  Malagigi,  the 
Enchanter  ;  and  Gano,  of  Naganza,  that  wily  traitor, 
who  had  the  art  to  make  the  Emperor  think  he  loved 
him,  while  he  plotted  against  him. 

High  sat  Charlemagne  at  the  head  of  his  vassals  and 
his  paladins,  rejoicing  in  the  thought  of  their  number 
and  their  might,  while  all  were  sitting  and  hearing 
music,  and  feasting,  when  suddenly  there  came  into 
the  hall  four  enormous  giants,  having  between  them  a 
lady  of  incomparable  beauty,  attended  by  a  single 
knight.  There  were  many  ladies  present  who  had 
seemed  beautiful  till  she  made  her  appearance,  but 
after  that  they  all  seemed  nothing.  Every  Christian 
knight  turned  his  eyes  to  her,  and  every  Pagan 
crowded  round  her,  while  she,  with  a  sweetness  that 
might  have  touched  a  heart  of  stone,  thus  addressed 
the  Emperor  : 

"  High-minded  lord,  the  renown  of  your  worthi- 
ness, and  of  the  valor  of  these  your  knights,  which 
echoes  from  sea  to  sea,  encourages  me  to  hope  that  two 
pilgrims,  who  have  come  from  the  ends  of  the  world 
to  behold  you,  will  not  have  encountered  their  fatigue 
in  vain.  And,  before  I  show  the  motive  which  has 
brought  us  hither,  learn  that  this  knight  is  my  brother 
Uberto,  and  that  I  am  his  sister  Angelica.  Fame  has 
told  us  of  the  jousting  this  day  appointed,  and  so  the 
prince  my  brother  has  come  to  prove  his  valor,  and  to 
say  that,  if  any  of  the  knights  here  assembled  choose 
to  meet  him  in  the  joust,  he  will  encounter  them,  one 
by  one,  at  the  stair  of  Merlin,  by  the  Fountain  of  the 
Pine.  And  his  conditions  are  these  :  No  knight  who 
chances  to  be  thrown  shall  be  allowed  to  renew  the 


THE    TOURNAMENT.  13 

combat,  but  shall  remain  prisoner  to  my  brother  ;  but 
if  my  brother  be  overthrown  he  shall  depart  out  of 
the  country,  leaving  me  as  the  prize  of  the  con- 
queror. ' ' 

Now  it  must  be  stated  that  this  Angelica  and  her 
brother,  who  called  himself  Uberto,  but  whose  real 
name  was  Argalia,  were  the  children  of  Galafron,  king 
of  Cathay,  who  had  sent  them  to  be  the  destruction 
of  the  Christian  host  ;  for  Argalia  was  armed  with  an 
enchanted  lance,  which  unfailingly  overthrew  every- 
thing it  touched,  and  he  was  mounted  on  a  horse,  a 
creature  of  magic,  whose  swiftness  outstripped  the 
wind.  Angelica  possessed  also  a  ring  which  was  a 
defence  against  all  enchantments,  and  when  put  into 
the  mouth  rendered  the  bearer  invisible.  Thus  Arga- 
lia was  expected  to  subdue  and  take  prisoners  what- 
ever knights  should  dare  to  encounter  him  ;  and  the 
charms  of  Angelica  were  relied  on  to  entice  the  pala- 
dins to  make  the  fatal  venture,  while  her  ring  would 
afford  her  easy  means  of  escape. 

When  Angelica  ceased  speaking  she  knelt  before 
the  king  and  awaited  his  answer,  and  everybody  gazed 
on  her  with  admiration.  Orlando  especially  felt  irre- 
sistibly drawn  towards  her,  so  that  he  trembled  and 
changed  countenance.  Every  knight  in  the  hall  was 
infected  with  the  same  feeling,  not  excepting  old  white- 
headed  Duke  Namo  and  Charlemagne  himself. 

All  stood  for  a  while  in  silence,  lost  in  the  delight 
of  looking  at  her.  The  fiery  youth  Ferrau  could 
hardly  restrain  himself  from  seizing  her  from  the  giants 
and  carrying  her  away  ;  Rinaldo  turned  as  red  as  fire, 
while  Malagigi,  who  had  discovered  by  his  art  that 
the  stranger  was  not  speaking  truth,  muttered  softly,  as 
he  looked  at  her,  "Exquisite  false  creature  !  I  will 


14  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

play  thee  such  a  trick  for  this,  as  will  leave  thee  no 
cause  to  boast  of  thy  visit." 

Charlemagne,  to  detain  her  as  long  as  possible  be- 
fore him,  delayed  his  assent  till  he  had  asked  her  a 
number  of  questions,  all  which  she  answered  discreetly, 
and  then  the  challenge  was  accepted. 

As  soon  as  she  was  gone  Malagigi  consulted  his 
book,  and  found  out  the  whole  plot  of  the  vile,  infidel 
king,  Galafron,  as  we  have  explained  it,  so  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  the  damsel  and  frustrate  her  designs. 
He  hastened  to  the  appointed  spot,  and  there  found 
the  prince  and  his  sister  in  a  beautiful  pavilion,  where 
they  lay  asleep,  while  the  four  giants  kept  watch. 
Malagigi  took  his  book  and  cast  a  spell  out  of  it,  and 
immediately  the  four  giants  fell  into  a  deep  sleep. 
Drawing  his  sword  (for  he  was  a  belted  knight),  he 
softly  approached  the  young  lady,  intending  to  de- 
spatch her  at  once  ;  but,  seeing  her  look  so  lovely,  he 
paused  for  a  moment,  thinking  there  was  no  need  of 
hurry,  as  he  believed  his  spell  was  upon  her,  and  she 
could  not  wake.  But  the  ring  which  she  wore  secured 
her  from  the  effect  of  the  spell,  and  some  slight  noise, 
or  whatever  else  it  was,  caused  her  at  that  moment  to 
awake.  She  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  flew  to  her 
brother,  and  waked  him.  By  the  help  of  her  knowl- 
edge of  enchantment,  they  took  and  bound  fast  the 
magician,  and,  seizing  his  book,  turned  his  arts  against 
himself.  Then  they  summoned  a  crowd  of  demons, 
and  bade  them  seize  their  prisoner  and  bear  him  to 
King  Galafron,  at  his  great  city  of  Albracca,  which 
they  did,  and,  on  his  arrival,  he  was  locked  up  in  a 
rock  under  the  sea. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  all  was  uproar 
at  Paris,  since  Orlando  insisted  upon  being  the  first  to 


THE    TOURNAMENT.  15 

try  the  adventure  at  the  stair  of  Merlin.  This  was 
resented  by  the  other  pretenders  to  Angelica,  and  all 
contested  his  right  to  the  precedence.  The  tumult  was 
stilled  by  the  usual  expedient  of  drawing  lots,  and  the 
first  prize  was  drawn  by  Astolpho.  Ferrau,  the  Sara- 
cen, had  the  second,  and  Grandonio  the  third.  Next 
came  Berlinghieri,  and  Otho ;  then  Charles  himself, 
and,  as  his  ill-fortune  would  have  it,  after  thirty  more, 
the  indignant  Orlando. 

Astolpho,  who  drew  the  first  lot,  was  handsome, 
brave,  and  rich.  But,  whether  from  heedlessness  or 
want  of  skill,  he  was  an  unlucky  jouster,  and  very  apt 
to  be  thrown,  an  accident  which  he  bore  with  perfect 
good-humor,  always  ready  to  mount  again  and  try  to 
mend  his  fortune,  generally  with  no  better  success. 

Astolpho  went  forth  upon  his  adventure  with  great 
gayety  of  dress  and  manner,  encountered  Argalia,  and 
was  immediately  tilted  out  of  the  saddle.  He  railed 
at  fortune,  to  whom  he  laid  all  the  fault  ;  but  his  pain- 
ful feelings  were  somewhat  relieved  by  the  kindness  of 
Angelica,  who,  touched  by  his  youth  and  good  looks, 
granted  him  the  liberty  of  the  pavilion,  and  caused  him 
to  be  treated  with  all  kindness  and  respect. 

The  violent  Ferrau  had  the  next  chance  in  the  en- 
counter, and  was  thrown  no  less  speedily  than  Astol- 
pho ;  but  he  did  not  so  easily  put  up  with  his  mis- 
chance. Crying  out,  "  What  are  the  emperor's  en- 
gagements to  me  ? "  he  rushed  with  his  sword  against 
Argalia,  who,  being  forced  to  defend  himself,  dis- 
mounted and  drew  his  sword,  but  got  so  much  the 
worse  of  the  fight  that  he  made  a  signal  of  surrender, 
and,  after  some  words,  listened  to  a  proposal  of  mar- 
riage from  Ferrau  to  his  sister.  The  beauty,  however, 
feeling  no  inclination  to  match  with  such  a  rough  and 


1 6  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

savage-looking  person,  was  so  dismayed  at  the  offer, 
that,  hastily  bidding  her  brother  to  meet  her  in  the 
forest  of  Arden,  she  vanished  from  the  sight  of  both  by 
means  of  the  enchanted  ring.  Argalia,  seeing  this, 
took  to  his  horse  of  swiftness,  and  dashed  away  in  the 
same  direction.  Ferrau  pursued  him,  and  Astolpho, 
thus  left  to  himself,  took  possession  of  the  enchanted 
lance  in  place  of  his  own,  which  was  broken,  not 
knowing  the  treasure  he  possessed  in  it,  and  returned 
to  the  tournament.  Charlemagne,  finding  the  lady 
and  her  brother  gone,  ordered  the  jousting  to  proceed 
as  at  first  intended,  in  which  Astolpho,  by  aid  of  the 
enchanted  lance,  unhorsed  all  comers  against  him, 
equally  to  their  astonishment  and  his  own. 

The  paladin  Rinaldo,  on  learning  the  issue  of  the 
combat  of  Ferrau  and  the  stranger,  galloped  after  the 
fair  fugitive  in  an  agony  of  love  and  impatience. 
Orlando,  perceiving  his  disappearance,  pushed  forth  in 
like  manner ;  and,  at  length,  all  three  are  in  the  forest 
of  Arden,  hunting  about  for  her  who  is  invisible. 

Now  in  this  forest  there  were  two  fountains,  the 
one  constructed  by  the  sage  Merlin,  who  designed  it 
for  Tristram  and  the  fair  Isoude  ; l  for  such  was  the 
virtue  of  this  fountain,  that  a  draught  of  its  waters  pro- 
duced an  oblivion  of  the  love  which  the  drinker  might 
feel,  and  even  produced  aversion  for  the  object  formerly 
beloved.  The  other  fountain  was  endowed  with  ex- 
actly opposite  qualities,  and  a  draught  of  it  inspired 
love  for  the  first  living  object  that  was  seen  after 
tasting  it.  Rinaldo  happened  to  come  to  the  first- 
mentioned  fountain,  and,  being  flushed  with  heat,  dis- 
mounted, and  quenched  in  one  draught  both  his  thirst 
and  his  passion.  So  far  from  loving  Angelica  as  before 

1  See  their  story  in  "  The  Age  of  Chivalry." 


THE   TOURNAMENT.  17 

he  hated  her  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  became 
disgusted  with  the  search  he  was  upon,  and,  feeling 
fatigued  with  his  ride,  finding  a  sheltered  and  flowery 
nook,  laid  himself  down  and  fell  asleep. 

Shortly  after  came  Angelica,  but,  approaching  in  a 
different  direction,  she  espied  the  other  fountain,  and 
there  quenched  her  thirst.  Then  resuming  her  way, 
she  came  upon  the  sleeping  Rinaldo.  Love  instantly 
seized  her,  and  she  stood  rooted  to  the  spot. 

The  meadow  round  was  all  full  of  lilies  of  the 
valley  and  wild  roses.  Angelica,  not  knowing  what 
to  do,  at  length  plucked  a  handful  of  these,  and  dropped 
them,  one  by  one,  on  the  face  of  the  sleeper.  He 
woke  up,  and,  seeing  who  it  was,  received  her  saluta- 
tions with  averted  countenance,  remounted  his  horse, 
and  galloped  away.  In  vain  the  beautiful  creature 
followed  and  called  after  him,  in  vain  asked  him  what 
she  had  done  to  be  so  despised.  Rinaldo  disappeared, 
leaving  her  in  despair,  and  she  returned  in  tears  to  the 
spot  where  she  had  found  him  sleeping.  There,  in 
her  turn,  she  herself  lay  down,  pressing  the  spot  of 
earth  on  which  he  had  lain,  and,  out  of  fatigue  and 
sorrow,  fell  asleep. 

As  Angelica  thus  lay,  fortune  conducted  Orlando  to 
the  same  place.  The  attitude  in  which  she  was  sleep- 
ing was  so  lovely  that  it  is  not  to  be  conceived,  much 
less  expressed.  Orlando  stood  gazing  like  a  man  who 
had  been  transported  to  another  sphere.  "Am  I  on 
earth,"  he  exclaimed,  "  or  am  I  in  Paradise  ?  Surely 
it  is  I  that  sleep,  and  this  is  my  dream." 

But  his  dream  was  proved  to  be  none  in  a  manner 
which  he  little  desired.  Ferrau,  who  had  slain  Arga- 
lia,  came  up,  raging  with  jealousy,  and  a  combat  ensued 
which  awoke  the  sleeper. 


I  8  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Terrified  at  what  she  beheld,  she  rushed  to  her 
palfrey,  and,  while  the  fighters  were  occupied  with 
one  another,  fled  away  through  the  forest.  The 
champions  continued  their  fight  till  they  were  inter- 
rupted by  a  messenger,  who  brought  word  to  Ferrau 
that  king  Marsilius,  his  sovereign,  was  in  pressing  need 
of  his  assistance,  and  conjured  him  to  return  to  Spain. 
Ferrau,  upon  this,  proposed  to  suspend  the  combat, 
to  which  Orlando,  eager  to  pursue  Angelica,  agreed. 
Ferrau,  on  the  other  hand,  departed  with  the  messen- 
ger to  Spain. 

Orlando's  quest  for  the  fair  fugitive  was  all  in  vain. 
Aided  by  the  powers  of  magic,  she  made  a  speedy 
return  to  her  own  country. 

But  the  thought  of  Rinaldo  could  not  be  banished 
from  her  mind,  and  she  determined  to  set  Malagigi  at 
liberty,  and  to  employ  him  to  win  Rinaldo,  if  possi- 
ble, to  make  her  a  return  of  affection.  She  accordingly 
freed  him  from  his  dungeon,  unlocking  his  fetters  with 
her  own  hands,  and  restored  him  his  book,  promising 
him  ample  honors  and  rewards,  on  condition  of  his 
bringing  Rinaldo  to  her  feet. 

Malagigi  accordingly,  with  the  aid  of  his  book, 
called  up  a  demon,  mounted  him,  and  departed. 
Arrived  at  his  destination,  he  inveigled  Rinaldo  into 
an  enchanted  bark,  which  conveyed  him,  without 
any  visible  pilot,  to  an  island  where  stood  an  edifice 
called  Joyous  Castle.  The  whole  island  was  a 
garden.  On  the  western  side,  close  to  the  sea,  was 
the  palace,  built  of  marble,  so  clear  and  polished  that 
it  reflected  the  landscape  about  it.  Rinaldo  leapt 
ashore,  and  soon  met  a  lady,  who  invited  him  to 
enter.  The  house  was  as  beautiful  within  as  without, 
full  of  rooms  adorned  with  azure  and  gold,  and  with 


THE   TOURNAMENT.  19 

noble  paintings.  The  lady  led  the  knight  into  an 
apartment  painted  with  stories,  and  opening  to  the 
garden,  through  pillars  of  crystal,  with  golden  capitals. 
Here  he  found  a  bevy  of  ladies,  three  of  whom  were 
singing  in  concert,  while  another  played  on  an  instru- 
trent  of  exquisite  accord,  and  the  rest  danced  round 
about  them.  When  the  ladies  beheld  him  coming 
they  turned  the  dance  into  a  circuit  round  him,  and 
then  one  of  them,  in  the  sweetest  manner,  said,  "  Sir 
knight,  the  tables  are  set,  and  the  hour  for  the  banquet 
is  come  ;  "  and,  with  these  words,  still  dancing,  they 
drew  him  across  the  lawn  in  front  of  the  apartment, 
to  a  table  that  was  spread  with  cloth  of  gold  and  fine 
linen,  under  a  bower  of  damask  roses  by  the  side  of  a 
fountain. 

Four  ladies  were  already  seated  there,  who  rose, 
and  placed  Rinaldo  at  their  head,  in  a  chair  set  with 
pearls.  And  truly  indeed  was  he  astonished.  A  re- 
past ensued,  consisting  of  viands  the  most  delicate,  and 
wines  as  fragrant  as  they  were  fine,  drunk  out  of 
jewelled  cups ;  and,  when  it  drew  towards  its  conclu- 
sion, harps  and  lutes  were  heard  in  the  distance,  and 
one  of  the  ladies  said  in  the  knight's  ear  :  "  This 
house  and  all  that  you  see  in  it  are  yours  ;  for  you 
alone  was  it  built,  and  the  builder  is  a  queen.  Happy 
indeed  must  you  think  yourself,  for  she  loves  you,  and 
she  is  the  greatest  beauty  in  the  world  !  Her  name  is 
Angelica." 

The  moment  Rinaldo  heard  the  name  he  so  de- 
tested he  started  up,  with  a  changed  countenance, 
and,  in  spite  of  all  that  the  lady  could  say,  broke  off" 
across  the  garden,  and  never  ceased  hastening  till  he 
reached  the  place  where  he  landed.  The  bark  was 
still  on  the  shore.  He  sprang  into  it,  and  pushed  off, 


20  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

though  he  saw  nobody  in  it  but  himself.  It  was  in 
vain  for  him  to  try  to  control  its  movements,  for  it 
dashed  on  as  if  in  fury,  till  it  reached  a  distant  shore 
covered  with  a  gloomy  forest.  Here  Rinaldo,  sur- 
rounded by  enchantments  of  a  very  different  sort  from 
those  which  he  had  lately  resisted,  was  entrapped  into 
a  pit. 

The  pit  belonged  to  a  castle  called  Altaripa,  which 
was  hung  with  human  heads,  and  painted  red  with 
blood.  As  the  paladin  was  viewing  the  scene  with 
amazement  a  hideous  old  woman  made  her  appear- 
ance at  the  edge  of  the  pit,  and  told  him  that  he  was 
destined  to  be  thrown  to  a  monster,  who  was  only 
kept  from  devastating  the  whole  country  by  being 
supplied  with  living  human  flesh.  Rinaldo  said,  "Be 
it  so  ;  let  me  but  remain  armed  as  I  am,  and  I  fear 
nothing."  The  old  woman  laughed  in  derision.  Ri- 
naldo remained  in  the  pit  all  night,  and  the  next 
morning  was  taken  to  the  place  where  the  monster 
had  his  den.  It  was  a  court  surrounded  by  a  high 
wall.  Rinaldo  was  shut  in  with  the  beast,  and  a  ter- 
rible combat  ensued.  Rinaldo  was  unable  to  make 
any  impression  on  the  scales  of  the  monster,  while  he, 
on  the  contrary,  with  his  dreadful  claws,  tore  away 
plate  and  mail  from  the  paladin.  Rinaldo  began  to 
think  his  last  hour  was  come,  and  cast  his  eyes  around 
and  above  to  see  if  there  was  any  means  of  escape. 
He  perceived  a  beam  projecting  from  the  wall  at  the 
height  of  some  ten  feet,  and,  taking  a  leap  almost 
miraculous,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  it,  and  in  fling- 
ing himself  up  across  it.  Here  he  sat  for  hours,  the 
hideous  brute  continually  trying  to  reach  him.  All  at 
once  he  heard  the  sound  of  something  coming  through 
the  air  like  a  bird,  and  suddenly  Angelica  herself 


THE   TOURNAMENT.  21 

alighted  on  the  end  of  the  beam.  She  held  something 
in  her  hand  towards  him,  and  spoke  to  him  in  a  loving 
voice.  But  the  moment  Rinaldo  saw  her  he  com- 
manded her  to  go  away,  refused  all  her  offers  of  as- 
sistance, and  at  length  declared  that,  if  she  did  not 
leave  him,  he  would  cast  himself  down  to  the  monster, 
and  meet  his  fate. 

Angelica,  saying  she  would  lose  her  life  rather  than 
displease  him,  departed  ;  but  first  she  threw  to  the 
monster  a  cake  of  wax  she  had  prepared,  and  spread 
around  him  a  rope  knotted  with  nooses.  The  beast 
took  the  bait,  and,  finding  his  teeth  glued  together  by 
the  wax,  vented  his  fury  in  bounds  and  leaps,  and, 
soon  getting  entangled  in  the  nooses,  drew  them  tight 
by  his  struggles,  so  that  he  could  scarcely  move  a 
limb. 

Rinaldo,  watching  his  chance,  leapt  down  upon  his 
back,  seized  him  round  the  neck,  and  throttled  him, 
not  relaxing  his  gripe  till  the  beast  fell  dead. 

Another  difficulty  remained  to  be  overcome.  The 
walls  were  of  immense  height,  and  the  only  opening 
in  them  was  a  grated  window  of  such  strength  that  he 
could  not  break  the  bars.  In  his  distress  Rinaldo 
found  a  file,  which  Angelica  had  left  on  the  ground, 
and,  with  the  help  of  this,  effected  his  deliverance. 

What  further  adventures  he  met  with  will  be  told  in 
another  chapter. 


22  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 


THE    SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA. 

AT  the  very  time  when  Charlemagne  was  holding 
his  plenary  court  and  his  great  tournament  his  king- 
dom was  invaded  by  a  mighty  monarch,  who  was 
moreover  so  valiant  and  strong  in  battle  that  no  one 
could  stand  against  him.  He  was  named  Gradasso, 
and  his  kingdom  was  called  Sericane.  Now,  as  it 
often  happens  to  the  greatest  and  the  richest  to  long 
for  what  they  cannot  have,  and  thus  to  lose  what 
they  already  possess,  this  king  could  not  rest  content 
without  Durindana,  the  sword  of  Orlando,  and  Bay- 
ard, the  horse  of  Rinaldo.  To  obtain  these  he  deter- 
mined to  war  upon  France,  and  for  this  purpose  put 
in  array  a  mighty  army. 

He  took  his  way  through  Spain,  and,  after  defeat- 
ing Marsilius,  the  king  of  that  country,  in  several 
battles,  was  rapidly  advancing  on  France.  Charle- 
magne, though  Marsilius  was  a  Saracen,  and  had  been 
his  enemy,  yet  felt  it  needful  to  succor  him  in  this 
extremity  from  a  consideration  of  common  danger, 
and,  with  the  consent  of  his  peers,  despatched  Rinaldo 
with  a  strong  body  of  soldiers  against  Gradasso. 

There  was  much  fighting,  with  doubtful  results,  and 
Gradasso  was  steadily  advancing  into  France.  But, 
impatient  to  achieve  his  objects,  he  challenged  Rinaldo 
to  single  combat,  to  be  fought  on  foot,  and  upon  these 
conditions  :  If  Rinaldo  conquered,  Gradasso  agreed  to 
give  up  all  his  prisoners  and  return  to  his  own 
country  ;  but  if  Gradasso  won  the  day,  he  was  to 
have  Bayard. 

The  challenge  was  accepted,  and  would  have  been 
fought  had  it  not  been  for  the  arts  of  Malagigi,  who 


THE    SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA.  23 

just  then  returned  from  Angelica's  kingdom  with  set 
purpose  to  win  Rinaldo  to  look  with -favor  upon  the 
fair  princess  who  was  dying  for  love  of  him.  Mala- 
gigi  drew  Rinaldo  away  from  the  army  by  putting  on 
the  semblance  of  Gradasso,  and,  after  a  short  contest, 
pretending  to  fly  before  him,  by  which  means  Rinaldo 
was  induced  to  follow  him  into  a  boat,  in  which  he 
was  borne  away,  and  entangled  in  various  adventures, 
as  we  have  already  related. 

The  army,  left  under  the  command  of  Ricciardetro, 
Rinaldo's  brother,  was  soon  joined  by  Charlemagne 
and  all  his  peerage,  but  experienced  a  disastrous  rout, 
and  the  Emperor  and  many  of  his  paladins  were 
taken  prisoners.  Gradasso,  however,  did  not  abuse 
his  victory  ;  he  took  Charles  by  the  hand,  seated  him 
by  his  side,  and  told  him  he  warred  only  for  honor. 
He  renounced  all  conquests,  on  condition  that  the 
Emperor  should  deliver  to  him  Bayard  and  Durin- 
dana,  both  of  them  the  property  of  his  vassals,  the 
former  of  which,  as  he  maintained,  was  already  for- 
feited to  him  by  Rinaldo's  failure  to  meet  him  as 
agreed.  To  these  terms  Charlemagne  readily  acceded. 

Bayard,  after  the  departure  of  his  master,  had  been 
taken  in  charge  by  Ricciardetto,  and  sent  back  to 
Paris,  where  Astolpho  was  in  command,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Charlemagne.  Astolpho  received  with  great 
indignation  the  message  despatched  for  Bayard,  and 
replied  by  a  herald  that  "he  would  not  surrender  the 
horse  of  his  kinsman  Rinaldo  without  a  contest.  If 
Gradasso  wanted  the  steed  he  might  come  and  take 
him,  and  that  he,  Astolpho,  was  ready  to  meet  him  in 
the  field." 

Gradasso  was  only  amused  at  this  answer,  for  As- 
tolpho's  fame  as  a  successful  warrior  was  not  high, 


24  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  Gradasso  willingly  renewed  with  him  the  bargain 
which  he  had  made  with  Rinaldo.  On  these  condi- 
tions the  battle  was  fought.  The  enchanted  lance,  in 
the  hands  of  Astolpho,  performed  a  new  wonder  ;  and 
Gradasso,  the  terrible  Gradasso,  was  unhorsed. 

He  kept  his  word,  set  free  his  prisoners,  and  put 
his  army  on  the  march  to  return  to  his  own  country, 
renewing  his  oath,  however,  not  to  rest  till  he  had 
taken  from  Rinaldo  his  horse,  and  from  Orlando  his 
sword,  or  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt. 

Charlemagne,  full  of  gratitude  to  Astolpho,  would 
have  kept  him  near  his  person  and  loaded  him  with 
honors,  but  Astolpho  preferred  to  seek  Rinaldo,  with 
the  view  of  restoring  to  him  his  horse,  and  departed 
from  Paris  with  that  design. 


Our  story  now  returns  to  Orlando,  whom  we  left 
fascinated  with  the  sight  of  the  sleeping  beauty,  who, 
however,  escaped  him  while  engaged  in  the  combat 
with  Ferrau.  Having  long  sought  her  in  vain  through 
the  recesses  of  the  wood,  he  resolved  to  follow  her  to 
her  father's  court.  Leaving,  therefore,  the  camp  of 
Charlemagne,  he  travelled  long  in  the  direction  of  the 
East,  making  inquiry  everywhere,  if,  perchance,  he 
might  get  tidings  of  the  fugitive.  After  many  advent- 
ures, he  arrived  one  day  at  a  place  where  many 
roads  crossed,  and  meeting  there  a  courier,  he  asked 
him  for  news.  The  courier  replied  that  he  had  been 
despatched  by  Angelica  to  solicit  the  aid  of  Sacripant, 
king  of  Circassia,  in  favor  of  her  father  Galafron,  who 
was  besieged  in  his  city,  Albracca,  by  Agrican,  king 
of  Tartary.  This  Agrican  had  been  an  unsuccessful 
suitor  to  the  damsel,  whom  he  now  pursued  with 


THE   SIEGE    OF   ALBRACCA.  25 

arms.  Orlando  thus  learned  that  he  was  within  a 
day's  journey  of  Albracca  ;  and,  feeling  now  secure  of 
Angelica,  he  proceeded  with  all  speed  to  her  city. 

Thus  journeying  he  arrived  at  a  bridge,  under 
which  flowed  a  foaming  river.  Here  a  damsel  met 
him  with  a  goblet,  and  informed  him  that  it  was  the 
usage  of  this  bridge  to  present  the  traveller  with  a 
cup.  Orlando  accepted  the  offered  cup  and  drank  its 
contents.  He  had  no  sooner  done  so  than  his  brain 
reeled,  and  he  became  unconscious  of  the  object  of 
his  journey,  and  of  everything  else.  Under  the  in- 
fluence of  this  fascination  he  followed  the  damsel  into 
a  magnificent  and  marvellous  palace.  Here  he  found 
himself  in  company  with  many  knights,  unknown  to 
him  and  to  each  other,  though  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  Cup  of  Oblivion  of  which  they  all  had  partaken 
they  would  have  found  themselves  brothers  in  arms. 


Astolpho,  proceeding  on  his  way  to  seek  Rinaldo, 
splendidly  dressed  and  equipped,  as  was  his  wont,  ar- 
rived in  Circassia,  and  found  there  a  great  army 
encamped  under  the  command  of  Sacripant,  the  king 
of  that  country,  who  was  leading  it  to  the  defence  of 
Galafron,  the  father  of  Angelica.  Sacripant,  much 
struck  by  the  appearance  of  Astolpho  and  his  horse, 
accosted  him  courteously,  and  tried  to  enlist  him  in  his 
service  ;  but  Astolpho,  proud  of  his  late  victories, 
scornfully  declined  his  offers,  and  pursued  his  way. 
King  Sacripant  was  too  much  attracted  by  his  appear- 
ance to  part  with  him  so  easily,  and  having  laid  aside 
his  kingly  ornaments,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  him. 

Astolpho  next  day  encountered  on  his  way  a 
stranger  knight,  named  Sir  Florismart,  Lord  of  the 


26  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

Sylvan  Tower,  one  of  the  bravest  and  best  of  knights, 
having  as  his  guide  a  damsel,  young,  fair,  and  virtu- 
ous, to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  whose  name 
was  Flordelis.  Astolpho,  as  he  approached,  defied  the 
knight,  bidding  him  yield  the  lady,  or  prepare  to 
maintain  his  right  by  arms.  Florismart  accepted  the 
contest,  and  the  knights  encountered.  Florismart  was 
unhorsed  and  his  steed  fell  dead,  while  Bayard  sus- 
tained no  injury  by  the  shock. 

Florismart  was  so  overwhelmed  with  despair  at  his 
own  disgrace  and  the  sight  of  the  damsel's  distress, 
that  he  drew  his  sword,  and  was  about  to  plunge  it 
into  his  own  bosom.  But  Astolpho  held  his  hand, 
told  him  that  he  contended  only  for  glory,  and  was 
contented  to  leave  him  the  lady. 

While  Florismart  and  Flordelis  were  vowing  eter- 
nal gratitude  King  Sacripant  arrived,  and  coveting  the 
damsel  of  the  one  champion  as  much  as  the  horse  and 
arms  of  the  other,  defied  them  to  the  joust.  Astolpho 
met  the  challenger,  whom  he  instantly  overthrew,  and 
presented  his  courser  to  Florismart,  leaving  the  king  to 
return  to  his  army  on  foot. 

The  friends  pursued  their  route,  and  ere  long  Flor- 
delis discovered,  by  signs  which  were  known  to  her, 
that  they  were  approaching  the  waters  of  Oblivion, 
and  advised  them  to  turn  back,  or  to  change  their 
course.  This  the  knights  would  not  hear  of,  and, 
continuing  their  march,  they  soon  arrived  at  the  bridge 
where  Orlando  had  been  taken  prisoner. 

The  damsel  of  the  bridge  appeared  as  before  with 
the  enchanted  cup,  but  Astolpho,  forewarned,  rejected 
it  with  scorn.  She  dashed  it  to  the  ground,  and  a  fire 
blazed  up  which  rendered  the  bridge  unapproachable. 
At  the  same  moment  the  two  knights  were  assailed  by 


THE   SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA.  27 

sundry  warriors,  known  and  unknown,  who,  having 
no  recollection  of  anything,  joined  blindly  in  defence  of 
jheir  prison-house.  Among  these  was  Orlando,  at 
sight  of  whom  Astolpho,  with  all  his  confidence  not 
daring  to  encounter  him,  turned  and  fled,  owing  his 
escape  to  the  strength  and  fleetness  of  Bayard. 

Florismart,  meanwhile,  overlaid  by  fearful  odds, 
was  compelled  to  yield  to  necessity,  and  comply  with 
the  usage  of  the  fairy.  He  drank  of  the  cup  and 
remained  prisoner  with  the  rest.  Flordelis,  deprived 
of  her  two  friends,  retired  from  the  scene,  and  devoted 
herself  to  untiring  efforts  to  effect  her  lover's  deliver- 
ance. Astolpho  pursued  his  way  to  Albracca,  which 
Agrican  was  about  to  besiege.  He  was  kindly  wel- 
comed by  Angelica,  and  enrolled  among  her  defenders. 
Impatient  to  distinguish  himself,  he  one  night  sallied 
forth  alone,  arrived  in  Agrican's  camp,  and  unhorsed 
his  warriors  right  and  left  by  means  of  the  enchanted 
lance.  But  he  was  soon  surrounded  and  overmatched, 
and  made  prisoner  to  Agrican. 

Relief  was,  however,  at  hand  ;  for  as  the  citizens 
and  soldiers  were  one  day  leaning  over  their  walls 
they  descried  a  cloud  of  dust,  from  which  horsemen 
were  seen  to  prick  forth,  as  it  rolled  on  towards  the 
camp  of  the  besiegers.  This  turned  out  to  be  the 
army  of  Sacripant,  which  immediately  attacked  that  of 
Agrican.  with  the  view  of  cutting  a  passage  through 
his  camp  to  the  besieged  city.  But  Agrican,  mounted 
upon  Bayard,  taken  from  Astolpho,  but  not  armed 
with  the  lance  of  gold,  the  virtues  of  which  were  un- 
known to  him,  performed  wonders,  and  rallied  his 
scattered  troops,  which  had  given  way  to  the  sudden 
and  unexpected  assault.  Sacripant,  on  the  other  hand, 
encouraged  his  men  by  the  most  desperate  acts  of 


28  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

valor,  having  as  an  additional  incentive  to  his  courage 
the  sight  of  Angelica,  who  showed  herself  upon  the 
city  walls. 

There  she  witnessed  a  single  combat  between  the 
two  leaders,  Agrican  and  Sacripant.  In  this,  at  length, 
her  defender  appeared  to  be  overmatched,  when  the 
Circassians  broke  the  ring,  and  separated  the  comba- 
tants, who  were  borne  asunder  in  the  rush.  Sacripant, 
severely  wounded,  profited  by  the  confusion,  and  es- 
caped into  Albracca,  where  he  was  kindly  received 
and  carefully  tended  by  Angelica. 

The  battle  continuing,  the  Circassians  were  at  last 
put  to  flight,  and,  being  intercepted  between  the 
enemy's  lines  and  the  town,  sought  for  refuge  under 
the  walls.  Angelica  ordered  the  drawbridge  to  be  let 
down,  and  the  gates  thrown  open  to  the  fugitives. 
With  these  Agrican,  not  distinguished  in  the  crowd, 
entered  the  place,  driving  both  Circassians  and  Cath- 
ayans  before  him,  and  the  portcullis  being  dropped,  he 
was  shut  in. 

For  a  time  the  terror  which  he  inspired  put  to  flight 
all  opposers,  but  when  at  last  it  came  to  be  known 
that  few  or  none  of  his  followers  had  effected  an  en- 
trance with  him,  the  fugitives  rallied  and  surrounded 
him  on  all  sides.  While  he  was  thus  apparently  re- 
duced to  the  last  extremities,  he  was  saved  by  the  very 
circumstance  which  threatened  him  with  destruction. 
The  soldiers  of  Angelica,  closing  upon  him  from  all 
sides,  deserted  their  defences  ;  and  his  own  besieging 
army  entered  the  city  in  a  part  where  the  wall  was 
broken  down. 

In  this  way  was  Agrican  rescued,  the  city  taken, 
and  the  inhabitants  put  to  the  sword.  Angelica,  how- 
ever, with  some  of  the  knights  who  were  her  defend- 


THE    SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA.  29 

ers,  among  whom  was  Sacripant,  saved  herself  in  the 
citadel,  which  was  planted  upon  a  rock. 

The  fortress  was  impregnable,  but  it  was  scantily 
victualled,  and  ill  provided  with  other  necessaries. 
Under  these  circumstances  Angelica  announced  to 
those  blockaded  with  her  in  the  citadel  her  intention  to 
go  in  quest  of  assistance,  and,  having  plighted  her 
promise  of  a  speedy  return,  she  set  out,  with  the  en- 
chanted ring  upon  her  finger.  Mounted  upon  her  pal- 
frey, the  damsel  passed  through  the  enemy's  lines,  and 
by  sunrise  was  many  miles  clear  of  their  encampment. 

It  so  happened  that  her  road  led  her  near  the  fatal 
bridge  of  Oblivion,  and  as  she  approached  it  she  met 
a  damsel  weeping  bitterly.  It  was  Flordelis,  whose 
lover,  Florismart,  as  we  have  related,  had  met  the  fate 
of  Orlando  and  many  more,  and  fallen  a  victim  to  the 
enchantress  of  the  cup.  She  related  her  adventures  to 
Angelica,  and  conjured  her  to  lend  what  aid  she  might 
to  rescue  her  lord  and  his  companions.  Angelica, 
accordingly,  watching  her  opportunity  and  aided  by 
her  ring,  slipped  into  the  castle  unseen,  when  the  door 
was  opened  to  admit  a  new  victim.  Here  she  speed- 
ily disenchanted  Orlando  and  the  rest  by  a  touch  of 
her  talisman.  But  Florismart  was  not  there.  He  had 
been  given  up  to  Falerina,  a  more  powerful  enchant- 
ress, and  was  still  in  durance.  Angelica  conjured  the 
rescued  captives  to  assist  her  in  the  recovery  of  her 
kingdom,  and  all  departed  together  for  Albracca. 

The  arrival  of  Orlando,  with  his  companions,  nine 
in  all,  and  among  the  bravest  knights  of  France, 
changed  at  once  the  fortunes  of  the  war.  Wherever 
the  great  paiadin  came,  pennon  and  standard  fell  before 
him.  Agrican  in  vain  attempted  to  rally  his  troops. 
Orlando  kept  constantly  in  his  front,  forcing  him  to 


30  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

attend  to  nobody  else.  The  Tartar  king  at  length 
bethought  him  of  a  stratagem.  He  turned  his  horse, 
and  made  a  show  of  flying  in  despair.  Orlando  dashed 
after  him  as  he  desired,  and  Agrican  fled  till  he  reached 
a  green  place  in  a  wood,  where  there  was  a  fountain. 

The  place  was  beautiful,  and  the  Tartar  dismounted 
to  refresh  himself  at  the  fountain,  but  without  taking 
off  his  helmet,  or  laying  aside  any  of  his  armor.  Or- 
lando was  quickly  at  his  back,  crying  out,  "  So  bold, 
and  yet  a  fugitive  !  How  could  you  fly  from  a  single 
arm  and  think  to  escape  ?  " 

The  Tartar  king  had  leaped  on  his  saddle  the 
moment  he  saw  his  enemy,  and  when  the  paladin  had 
done  speaking,  he  said  in  a  mild  voice,  "  Without 
doubt  you  are  the  best  knight  I  ever  encountered,  and 
fain  would  I  leave  you  untouched  for  your  own  sake, 
if  you  would  cease  to  hinder  me  from  rallying  my 
people.  I  pretended  to  fly,  in  order  to  bring  you  out 
of  the  field.  If  you  insist  upon  fighting  I  must  needs 
fight  and  slay  you,  but  I  call  the  sun  in  the  heavens  to 
witness  I  would  rather  not.  I  should  be  very  sorry 
for  your  death." 

The  Count  Orlando  felt  pity  for  so  much  gallantry, 
and  he  said,  "  The  nobler  you  show  yourself  the 
more  it  grieves  me  to  think  that  in  dying  without  a 
knowledge  of  the  true  faith  you  will  be  lost  in  the 
other  world.  Let  me  advise  you  to  save  body  and  soul 
at  once.  Receive  baptism,  and  go  your  way  in  peace." 

Agrican  replied  :  "  I  suspect  you  to  be  the  paladin 
Orlando.  If  you  are  I  would  not  lose  this  opportunity 
of  fighting  with  you  to  be  king  of  Paradise.  Talk  to 
me  no  more  about  your  things  of  another  world,  for 
you  will  preach  in  vain.  Each  of  us  for  himself,  and 
let  the  sword  be  umpire." 


THE    SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA.  31 

The  Saracen  drew  his  sword,  boldly  advancing  upon 
Orlando,  and  a  combat  began,  so  obstinate  and  so  long, 
each  warrior  being  a  miracle  of  prowess,  that  the  story 
says  it  lasted  from  noon  till  night.  Orlando  then  see- 
ing the  stars  come  out  was  the  first  to  propose  a 
respite. 

"What  are  we  to  do,"  said  he,  "now  that  day- 
light has  left  us  ?  " 

Agrican  answered  readily  enough,  "  Let  us  repose  in 
this  meadow,  and  renew  the  combat  at  dawn." 

The  repose  was  taken  accordingly.  Each  tied  up 
his  horse,  and  reclined  himself  on  the  grass,  not  far 
from  the  other,  just  as  if  they  had  been  friends,  Orlando 
by  the  fountain,  Agrican  beneath  a  pine.  It  was  a 
beautiful  clear  night,  and,  as  they  talked  together  before 
addressing  themselves  to  sleep,  the  champion  of  Chris- 
tendom, looking  up  at  the  firmament,  said,  "  That  is 
a  fine  piece  of  workmanship,  that  starry  spectacle  ;  God 
made  it  all,  that  moon  of  silver,  and  those  stars  of  gold, 
and  the  light  of  day,  and  the  sun,  —  all  for  the  sake 
of  human  kind." 

"You  wish,  I  see,  to  talk  of  matters  of  faith,"  said 
the  Tartar.  "  Now  I  may  as  well  tell  you  at  once 
that  I  have  no  sort  of  skill  in  such  matters,  nor  learn- 
ing of  any  kind.  I  never  could  learn  anything  when 
I  was  a  boy.  I  hated  it  so  that  I  broke  the  man's 
head  who  was  commissioned  to  teach  me  ;  and  it  pro- 
duced such  an  effect  on  others  that  nobody  ever  after- 
wards dared  so  much  as  show  me  a  book.  My 
boyhood  was  therefore  passed,  as  it  should  be,  in 
horsemanship  and  hunting,  and  learning  to  fight.  What 
is  the  good  of  a  gentleman's  poring  all  day  over  a 
book  ?  Prowess  to  the  knight,  and  preaching  to  the 
clergyman,  that  is  my  motto." 


3*  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

"I  acknowledge,"  returned  Orlando,  "that  arms 
are  the  first  consideration  of  a  gentleman  ;  but  not  at 
all  that  he  does  himself  dishonor  by  knowledge.  On 
the  contrary,  knowledge  is  as  great  an  embellishment 
of  the  rest  of  his  attainments,  as  the  flowers  are  to  the 
meadow  before  us  ;  and  as  to  the  knowledge  of  his 
Maker,  the  man  that  is  without  it  is  no  better  than  a 
stock  or  a  stone  or  a  brute  beast.  Neither  without 
study  can  he  reach  anything  of  a  due  sense  of  the  depth 
and  divineness  of  the  contemplation." 

"Learned  or  not  learned,"  said  Agrican,  "you 
might  show  yourself  better  bred  than  by  endeavoring 
to  make  me  talk  on  a  subject  on  which  you  have  me  at 
a  disadvantage.  If  you  choose  to  sleep  1  wish  you 
good  night ;  but  if  you  prefer  talking  I  recommend 
you  to  talk  of  fighting  or  of  fair  ladies.  And,  by  the 
way,  pray  tell  me,  are  you  not  that  Orlando  who 
makes  such  a  noise  in  the  world  ?  And  what  is  it,  pray, 
that  brings  you  into  these  parts  ?  Were  you  ever  in 
love  ?  I  suppose  you  must  have  been  ;  for  to  be  a 
knight,  and  never  to  have  been  in  love,  would  be  like 
being  a  man  without  a  heart  in  his  breast." 

The  count  replied  :  "  Orlando  I  am,  and  in  love  I 
am.  Love  has  made  me  abandon  everything,  and 
brought  me  into  these  distant  regions,  and,  to  tell  you 
all  in  one  word,  my  heart  is  in  the  hands  of  the  daughter 
of  King  Galafron.  You  have  come  against  him  with 
fire  and  sword,  to  get  possession  of  his  castles  and  his 
dominions  ;  and  I  have  come  to  help  him,  for  no 
object  in  the  world  but  to  please  his  daughter  and 
win  her  beautiful  hand.  I  care  for  nothing  else  in 
existence." 

Now  when  the  Tartar  king,  Agrican,  heard  his 
antagonist  speak  in  this  manner,  and  knew  him  to  be 


THE    SIEGE   OF   ALBRACCA.  33 

indeed  Orlando,  and  to  be  in  love  with  Angelica,  his 
face  changed  color  for  grief  and  jealousy,  though  it  could 
not  be  seen  for  the  darkness.  His  heart  began  beating 
with  such  violence  that  he  felt  as  if  he  should  have 
died.  "Well,"  said  he  to  Orlando,  "we  are  to  fight 
when  it  is  daylight,  and  one  or  other  is  to  be  left  here, 
dead  on  the  ground.  I  have  a  proposal  to  make  to 
you  —  nay,  an  entreaty.  My  love  is  so  excessive  for 
the  same  lady  that  I  beg  you  to  leave  her  to  me.  I 
will  owe  you  my  thanks,  and  give  up  the  siege  and 
put  an  end  to  the  war.  I  cannot  bear  that  any  one 
should  love  her,  and  that  I  should  live  to  see  it.  Why, 
therefore,  should  either  of  us  perish  ?  Give  her  up. 
Not  a  soul  shall  know  it." 

"  I  never  yet,"  answered  Orlando,  "  made  a  prom- 
ise which  I  did  not  keep,  and  nevertheless  I  own  to 
you  that,  were  I  to  make  a  promise  like  that,  and  even 
swear  to  keep  it,  I  should  not.  You  might  as  well 
ask  me  to  tear  away  the  limbs  from  my  body,  and  the 
eyes  out  of  my  head.  I  could  as  well  live  without 
breath  itself  as  cease  loving  Angelica." 

Agrican  had  hardly  patience  to  let  him  finish  speak- 
ing, ere  he  leapt  furiously  on  horseback,  though  it  was 
midnight.  "  Quit  her,"  said  he,  "or  die  !  " 

Orlando  seeing  the  infidel  getting  up,  and  not  being 
sure  that  he  would  not  add  treachery  to  fierceness,  had 
been  hardly  less  quick  in  mounting  for  the  combat. 
"  Never,"  exclaimed  he  ;  "I  never  could  have  quitted 
her  if  I  would,  and  now  I  would  not  if  I  could.  You 
must  seek  her  by  other  means  than  these." 

Fiercely  dashed  their  horses  together,  in  the  night- 
time, on  the  green  mead.  Despiteful  and  terrible 
were  the  blows  they  gave  and  took  by  the  moonlight. 
Agrican  fought  in  a  rage,  Orlando  was  cooler.  And 


34  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

now  the  struggle  had  lasted  more  than  five  hours, 
and  day  began  to  dawn,  when  the  Tartar  king,  furious 
to  find  so  much  trouble  given  him,  dealt  his  enemy  a 
blow  sharp  and  violent  beyond  conception.  It  cut  the 
shield  in  two  as  if  it  had  been  made  of  wood,  and, 
though  blood  could  not  be  drawn  from  Orlando,  be- 
cause he  was  fated,  it  shook  and  bruised  him  as  if  it 
had  started  every  joint  in  his  body. 

His  body  only,  however,  not  a  particle  of  his  soul. 
So  dreadful  was  the  blow  which  the  paladin  gave  in 
return,  that  not  only  shield,  but  every  bit  of  mail  on 
the  body  of  Agrican  was  broken  in  pieces,  and  three 
of  his  ribs  cut  asunder. 

The  Tartar,  roaring  like  a  lion,  raised  his  sword 
with  still  greater  vehemence  than  before,  and  dealt  a 
blow  on  the  paladin's  helmet,  such  as  he  had  never  yet 
received  from  mortal  man.  For  a  moment  it  took 
away  his  senses.  His  sight  failed,  his  ears  tinkled,  his 
frightened  horse  turned  about  to  fly  ;  and  he  was  falling 
from  the  saddle,  when  the  very  action  of  falling  threw 
his  head  upwards,  and  thus  recalled  his  recollection. 

"  What  a  shame  is  this  !  "  thought  he  ;  "  how  shall 
I  ever  again  dare  to  face  Angelica  !  I  have  been  fight- 
ing hour  after  hour  with  this  man,  and  he  is  but  one, 
and  I  call  myself  Orlando  !  If  the  combat  last  any 
longer  I  will  bury  myself  in  a  monastery,  and  never  look 
on  sword  again." 

Orlando  muttered  with  his  lips  closed  and  his  teeth 
ground  together  ;  and  you  might  have  thought  that  fire 
instead  of  breath  came  out  of  his  nose  and  mouth. 
He  raised  his  sword  Durindana  with  both  his  hands, 
and  sent  it  down  so  tremendously  on  Agrican' s  shoulder 
that  it  cut  through  breastplate  down  to  the  very  haunch, 
nay,  crushed  the  saddle-bow,  though  it  was  made  of 


RINALDO   AND   ORLANDO.  35 

bone  and  iron,  and  felled  man  and  horse  to  the  earth. 
Agrican  turned  as  white  as  ashes,  and  felt  death  upon 
him.  He  called  Orlando  to  come  close  to  him,  with 
a  gentle  voice,  and  said,  as  well  as  he  could  :  "I  be- 
lieve on  Him  who  died  on  the  cross.  Baptize  me,  I 
pray  thee,  with  the  fountain,  before  my  senses  are  gone. 
I  have  lived  an  evil  life,  but  need  not  be  rebellious  to 
God  in  death  also.  May  He  who  came  to  save  all  the 
rest  of  the  world  save  me  !  "  And  he  shed  tears, 
that  great  king,  though  he  had  been  so  lofty  and  fierce. 

Orlando  dismounted  quickly,  with  his  own  face  in 
tears.  He  gathered  the  king  tenderly  in  his  arms, 
and  took  and  laid  him  by  the  fountain,  on  a  marble 
rim  that  it  had,  and  then  he  wept  in  concert  with  him 
heartily,  and  asked  his  pardon,  and  so  baptized  him  in 
the  water  of  the  fountain,  and  knelt  and  prayed  to  God 
for  him  with  joined  hands. 

He  then  paused  and  looked  at  him  ;  and  when  he 
perceived  his  countenance  changed,  and  that  his  whole 
person  was  cold,  he  left  him  there  on  the  marble  rim 
of  the  fountain,  all  armed  as  he  was,  with  the  sword 
by  his  side,  and  the  crown  upon  his  head. 


ADVENTURES      OF      RINALDO     AND 
ORLANDO. 

WE  left  Rinaldo  when,  having  overcome  the  mon- 
ster, he  quitted  the  castle  of  Altaripa,  and  pursued  his 
way  on  foot.  He  soon  met  with  a  weeping  damsel, 
who,  being  questioned  as  to  the  cause  of  her  sorrow, 
told  him  she  was  in  search  of  one  to  do  battle  to  rescue 
her  lover,  who  had  been  made  prisoner  by  a  vile  en- 
chantress, together  with  Orlando  and  many  more. 


36  LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

The  damsel  was  Flordelis,  the  lady-love  of  Florismart, 
and  Rinaldo  promised  his  assistance,  trusting  to  accom- 
plish the  adventure  either  by  valor  or  skill.  Flordelis 
insisted  upon  Rinaldo's  taking  her  horse,  which  he  con- 
sented to  do,  on  condition  of  her  mounting  behind  him. 

As  they  rode  on  through  a  wood,  they  heard  strange 
noises,  and  Rinaldo,  reassuring  the  damsel,  pressed 
forward  towards  the  quarter  from  which  they  proceeded. 
He  soon  perceived  a  giant  standing  under  a  vaulted 
cavern,  with  a  huge  club  in  his  hand,  and  of  an  appear- 
ance to  strike  the  boldest  spirit  with  dread.  By  the 
side  of  the  cavern  was  chained  a  griffin,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  giant,  was  stationed  there  to  guard  a 
wonderful  horse,  the  same  which  was  once  Argalia's. 
This  horse  was  a  creature  of  enchantment,  matchless 
in  vigor,  speed,  and  form,  which  disdained  to  share  the 
diet  of  his  fellow-steeds,  —  corn  or  grass,  —  and  fed 
only  on  air.  His  name  was  Rabican. 

This  marvellous  horse,  after  his  master  Argalia  had 
been  slain  by  Ferrau,  finding  himself  at  liberty,  returned 
to  his  native  cavern,  and  was.  here  stabled  under  the 
protection  of  the  giant  and  the  griffin.  As  Rinaldo 
approached,  the  giant  assailed  him  with  his  club. 
Rinaldo  defended  himself  from  the  giant's  blows,  and 
gave  him  one  in  return,  which,  if  his  skin  had  not  been 
of  the  toughest,  would  have  finished  the  combat.  But 
the  giant,  though  wounded,  escaped,  and  let  loose  the 
griffin.  This  monstrous  bird  towered  in  air,  and 
thence  pounced  down  upon  Rinaldo,  who,  watching 
his  opportunity,  dealt  her  a  desperate  wound.  She 
had,  however,  strength  for  another  flight,  and  kept 
repeating  her  attacks,  which  Rinaldo  parried  as  he 
could,  while  the  damsel  stood  trembling  by,  witnessing 
the  contest. 


RINALDO   AND   ORLANDO.  37 

The  battle  continued,  rendered  more  terrible  by  the 
approach  of  night,  when  Rinaldo  determined  upon  a 
desperate  expedient  to  bring  it  to  a  conclusion.  He 
fell,  as  if  fainting  from  his  wounds,  and,  on  the  close 
approach  of  the  griffin,  dealt  her  a  blow  which  sheared 
away  one  of  her  wings.  The  beast,  though  sinking, 
griped  him  fast  with  her  talons,  digging  through  plate 
and  mail  ;  but  Rinaldo  plied  his  sword  in  utter  despera- 
tion, and  at  last  accomplished  her  destruction. 

Rinaldo  then  entered  the  cavern,  and  found  there 
the  wonderful  horse,  all  caparisoned.  He  was  coal- 
black,  except  for  a  star  of  white  on  his  forehead,  and 
One  white  foot  behind.  For  speed  he  was  unrivalled, 
though  in  strength  he  yielded  to  Bayard.  Rinaldo 
mounted  upon  Rabican,  and  issued  from  the  cavern. 

As  he  pursued  his  way  he  met  a  fugitive  from 
Agrican's  army,  who  gave  such  an  account  of  the 
prowess  of  a  champion  who  fought  on  the  side  of 
Angelica,  that  Rinaldo  was  persuaded  this  must  be 
Orlando,  though  at  a  loss  to  imagine  how  he  could 
have  been  freed  from  captivity.  He  determined  to 
repair  to  the  scene  of  the  contest  to  satisfy  his  curiosity, 
and  Flordelis,  hoping  to  find  Florismart  with  Orlando, 
consented  to  accompany  him. 

While  these  things  were  doing,  all  was  rout  and 
dismay  in  the  Tartarian  army,  from  the  death  of 
Agrican.  King  Galafron,  arriving  at  this  juncture 
with  an  army  for  the  relief  of  his  capital,  Albracca, 
assaulted  the  enemy's  camp,  and  carried  all  before  him. 
Rinaldo  had  now  reached  the  scene  of  action,  and  was 
looking  on  as  an  unconcerned  spectator,  when  he  was 
espied  by  Galafron.  The  king  instantly  recognized 
the  horse  Rabican,  which  he  had  given  to  Argalia 
when  he  sent  him  forth  on  his  ill-omened  mission  to 


38  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Paris.  Possessed  with  the  idea  that  the  rider  of  the 
horse  was  the  murderer  of  Argalia,  Galafron  rode  at 
Rinaldo,  and  smote  him  with  all  his  force.  Rinaldo 
was  not  slow  to  avenge  the  blow,  and  it  would  have 
gone  hard  with  the  king  had  not  his  followers  instantly 
closed  round  him  and  separated  the  combatants. 

Rinaldo  thus  found  himself,  almost  without  his  own 
choice,  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  enemies  of  Angelica, 
which  gave  him  no  concern,  so  completely  had  his 
draught  from  the  fountain  of  hate  steeled  his  mind 
against  her. 

For  several  successive  days  the  struggle  continued, 
without  any  important  results,  Rinaldo  meeting  the 
bravest  knights  of  Angelica's  party,  and  defeating  them 
one  after  the  other.  At  length  he  encountered  Or- 
lando, and  the  two  knights  bitterly  reproached  one 
another  for  the  cause  they  had  each  adopted,  and  en- 
gaged in  a  furious  combat.  Orlando  was  mounted 
upon  Bayard,  Rinaldo' s  horse,  which  Agrican  had  by 
chance  become  possessed  of,  and  Orlando  had  taken 
from  him  as  the  prize  of  victory.  Bayard  would  not 
fight  against  his  master,  and  Orlando  was  getting  the 
worse  of  the  encounter,  when  suddenly  Rinaldo,  seeing 
Astolpho,  who  for  love  of  him  had  arrayed  himself  on 
his  side,  hard  beset  by  numbers,  left  Orlando  to  rush 
to  the  defence  of  his  friend.  Night  prevented  the 
combat  from  being  renewed  ;  but  a  challenge  was  given 
and  accepted  for  their  next  meeting. 

But  Angelica,  sighing  in  her  heart  for  Rinaldo,  was 
not  willing  that  he  should  be  again  exposed  to  so  ter- 
rible a  venture.  She  begged  a  boon  of  Orlando, 
promising  she  would  be  his  if  he  would  do  her  bidding. 
On  receiving  his  promise,  she  enjoined  him  to  set  out 
without  delay  to  destroy  the  garden  of  the  enchantress 


RINALDO   AND    ORLANDO.  39 

Falerina,  in  which  many  valiant  knights  had  been  en- 
trapped, and  were  imprisoned. 

Orlando  departed  on  his  horse  Brigliadoro,  leaving 
Bayard  in  disgrace  for  his  bad  deportment  the  day 
before.  Angelica,  to  conciliate  Rinaldo,  sent  Bayard 
to  him  ;  but  Rinaldo  remained  unmoved  by  this  as  by 
all  her  former  acts  of  kindness. 

When  Rinaldo  learned  Orlando's  departure,  he 
yielded  to  the  entreaties  of  the  lady  of  Florismart, 
and  prepared  to  fulfil  his  promise,  and  rescue  her 
lover  from  the  power  of  the  enchantress.  Thus  both 
Rinaldo  and  Orlando  were  bound  upon  the  same  ad- 
venture, but  unknown  to  one  another. 

The  castle  of  Falerina  was  protected  by  a  river, 
which  was  crossed  by  a  bridge,  kept  by  a  ruffian, 
who  challenged  all  comers  to  the  combat  ;  and  such 
was  his  strength  that  he  had  thus  far  prevailed  in 
every  encounter,  as  appeared  by  the  arms  of  various 
knights  which  he  had  taken  from  them,  and  piled  up 
as  a  trophy  on  the  shore.  Rinaldo  attacked  him,  but 
with  as  bad  success  as  the  rest,  for  the  bridge-ward 
struck  him  so  violent  a  blow  with  an  iron  mace  that 
he  fell  to  the  ground.  But  when  the  villain  ap- 
proached to  strip  him  of  his  armor,  Rinaldo  seized 
him,  and  the  bridge-ward,  being  unable  to  free  him- 
self, leapt  with  Rinaldo  into  the  lake,  where  they 
both  disappeared. 

Orlando,  meanwhile,  in  discharge  of  his  promise  to 
Angelica,  pursued  his  way  in  quest  of  the  same  adven- 
ture. In  passing  through  a  wood  he  saw  a  cavalier 
armed  at  all  points,  and  mounted,  keeping  guard  over 
a  lady  who  was  bound  to  a  tree,  weeping  bitterly. 
Orlando  hastened  to  her  relief,  but  was  exhorted  by 
the  knight  not  to  interfere,  for  she  had  deserved  her 


40  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

fate  by  her  wickedness.  In  proof  of  which  he  made 
certain  charges  against  her.  The  lady  denied  them 
all,  and  Orlando  believed  her,  defied  the  knight,  over- 
threw him,  and,  releasing  the  lady,  departed  with  her 
seated  on  his  horse's  croup. 

While  they  rode  another  damsel  approached  on  a 
white  palfry,  who  warned  Orlando  of  impending 
danger,  and  informed  him  that  he  was  near  the  garden 
of  the  enchantress.  Orlando  was  delighted  with  the 
intelligence,  and  entreated  her  to  inform  him  how  he 
was  to  gain  admittance.  She  replied  that  the  garden 
could  only  be  entered  at  sunrise,  and  gave  him  such 
instructions  as  would  enable  him  to  gain  admittance. 
She  gave  him  also  a  book  in  which  was  painted  the 
garden  and  all  that  it  contained,  together  with  the 
palace  of  the  false  enchantress,  where  she  had  secluded 
herself  for  the  purpose  of  executing  a  magic  work  in 
which  she  was  engaged.  This  was  the  manufacture 
of  a  sword  capable  of  cutting  even  through  enchanted 
substances.  The  object  of  this  labor,  the  damsel  told 
him,  was  the  destruction  of  a  knight  of  the  west,  by 
name  Orlando,  who  she  had  read  in  the  book  of  Fate 
was  coming  to  demolish  her  garden.  Having  thus 
instructed  him,  the  damsel  departed. 

Orlando,  finding  he  must  delay  his  enterprise  till 
the  next  morning,  now  lay  down  and  was  soon  asleep. 
Seeing  this,  the  base  woman  whom  he  had  rescued, 
and  who  was  intent  on  making  her  escape  to  rejoin  her 
paramour,  mounted  Brigliadoro,  and  rode  off,  carrying 
away  Durindana. 

When  Orlando  awoke,  his  indignation,  as  may  be 
supposed,  was  great  on  the  discovery  of  the  theft  ;  but, 
like  a  good  knight  and  true,  he  was  not  to  be  diverted 
from  his  enterprise.  He  tore  off  a  huge  branch  of  an 


RINALDO   AND   ORLANDO.  4! 

elm  to  supply  the  place  of  his  sword  ;  and,  as  the  sun 
rose,  took  his  way  towards  the  gate  of  the  garden, 
where  a  dragon  was  on  his  watch.  This  he  slew  by 
repeated  blows,  and  entered  the  garden,  the  gate  of 
which  closed  behind  him,  barring  retreat.  Looking 
round  him,  he  saw  a  fair  fountain,  which  overflowed 
into  a  river,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  fountain  a  figure, 
on  whose  forehead  was  written  : 

"  The  stream  which  waters  violet  and  rose, 
From  hence  to  the  enchanted  palace  goes." 

Following  the  banks  of  this  flowing  stream,  and  rapt 
in  the  delights  of  the  charming  garden,  Orlando  arrived 
at  the  palace,  and  entering  it,  found  the  mistress,  clad 
in  white,  with  a  crown  of  gold  upon  her  head,  in  the 
act  of  viewing  herself  in  the  surface  of  the  magic  sword. 
Orlando  surprised  her  before  she  could  escape,  deprived 
her  of  the  weapon,  and  holding  her  fast  by  her  long 
hair,  which  floated  behind,  threatened  her  with  imme- 
diate death  if  she  did  not  yield  up  her  prisoners,  and 
afford  him  the  means  of  egress.  She,  however,  was 
firm  of  purpose,  making  no  reply,  and  Orlando,  unable 
to  move  her  either  by  threats  or  entreaties,  was  under 
the  necessity  of  binding  her  to  a  beech,  and  pursuing 
his  quest  as  he  best  might. 

He  then  bethought  him  of  his  book,  and,  consulting 
it,  found  that  there  was  an  outlet  to  the  south,  but  that 
to  reach  it  a  lake  was  to  be  passed,  inhabited  by  a 
siren,  whose  song  was  so  entrancing  as  to  be  quite  irre- 
sistible to  whoever  heard  it  ;  but  his  book  instructed 
him  how  to  protect  himself  against  this  danger.  Ac- 
cording to  its  directions,  while  pursuing  his  path,  he 
gathered  abundance  of  flowers,  which  sprung  all  around, 
and  filled  his  helmet  and  his  ears  with  them  ;  then  list- 


42  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

cned  if  he  heard  the  birds  sing.  Finding  that,  though 
he  saw  the  gaping  beak,  the  swelling  throat,  and  ruffled 
plumes,  he  could  not  catch  a  note,  he  felt  satisfied  with 
his  defence,  and  advanced  toward  the  lake.  It  was 
small  but  deep,  and  so  clear  and  tranquil  that  the  eye 
could  penetrate  to  the  bottom. 

He  had  no  sooner  arrived  upon  the  banks  than  the 
waters  were  seen  to  gurgle,  and  the  siren,  rising  mid- 
way out  of  the  pool,  sung  so  sweetly  that  birds  and 
beasts  came  trooping  to  the  water-side  to  listen.  Of 
this  Orlando  heard  nothing,  but,  feigning  to  yield  to 
the  charm,  sank  down  upon  the  bank.  The  siren 
issued  from  the  water  with  the  intent  to  accomplish 
his  destruction.  Orlando  seized  her  by  the  hair,  and 
while  she  sang  yet  louder  (song  being  her  only  de- 
fence) cut  off  her  head.  Then,  following  the  direc- 
tions of  the  book,  he  stained  himself  all  over  with  her 
blood. 

Guarded  by  this  talisman,  he  met  successively  all 
the  monsters  set  for  defence  of  the  enchantress  and 
her  garden,  and  at  length  found  himself  again  at  the 
spot  where  he  had  made  captive  the  enchantress,  who 
still  continued  fastened  to  the  beech.  But  the  scene 
was  changed.  The  garden  had  disappeared,  and 
Falerina,  before  so  haughty,  now  begged  for  mercy, 
assuring  him  that  many  lives  depended  upon  the  pres- 
ervation of  hers.  Orlando  promised  her  life  upon  her 
pledging  herself  for  the  deliverance  of  her  captives. 

This,  however,  was  no  easy  task.  They  were  not 
in  her  possession,  but  in  that  of  a  much  more  powerful 
enchantress,  Morgana,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  the  very 
idea  of  opposing  whom  made  Falerina  turn  pale  with 
fear.  Representing  to  him  the  hazards  of  the  enter- 
prise, she  led  him  towards  the  dwelling  of  Morgana. 


RINALDO   AND   ORLANDO.  43 

To  approach  it  he 'had  to  encounter  the  same  uncour- 
teous  bridge-ward  who  had  already  defeated  and  made 
captive  so  many  knights,  and  last  of  all,  Rinaldo.  He 
was  a  churl  of  the  most  ferocious  character,  named 
Arridano.  Morgana  had  provided  him  with  impene- 
trable armor,  and  endowed  him  in  such  a  manner  that 
his  strength  always  increased  in  proportion  to  that  of 
the  adversary  with  whom  he  was  matched.  No  one 
had  ever  yet  escaped  from  the  contest,  since,  such  was 
his  power  of  endurance,  he  could  breath  freely  under 
water.  Hence,  having  grappled  with  a  knight,  and 
sunk  with  him  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  he  returned,, 
bearing  his  enemy's  arms  in  triumph  to  the  surface. 

While  Falerina  was  repeating  her  cautions  and  her 
counsels  Orlando  saw  Rinaido's  arms  erected  in  form 
of  a  trophy,  among  other  spoils  made  by  the  villain, 
and,  forgetting  their  late  quarrel,  determined  upon 
revenging  his  friend.  Arriving  at  the  pass,  the  churl 
presuming  to  bar  the  way,  a  desperate  contest  ensued, 
during  which  Falerina  escaped.  The  churl  finding 
himself  overmatched  at  a  contest  of  arms,  resorted  to 
his  peculiar  art,  grappled  his  antagonist,  and  plunged 
with  him  into  the  lake.  When  he  reached  the  bottom 
Orlando  found  himself  in  another  world,  upon  a  dry 
meadow,  with  the  lake  overhead,  through  which  shone 
the  beams  of  our  sun,  while  the  water  stood  on  all 
sides  like  a  crystal  wall.  Here  the  battle  was  renewed, 
and  Orlando  had  in  his  magic  sword  an  advantage 
which  none  had  hitherto  possessed.  It  had  been  tem- 
pered by  Falerina  so  that  no  spells  could  avail  against  it. 
Thus  armed,  and  countervailing  the  strength  of  his 
adversary  by  his  superior  skill  and  activity,  it  was  not 
Jong  before  he  laid  him  dead  upon  the  field. 

Orlando     then    made    all    haste    to    return    to    the 


44  LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

upper  air,  and,  passing  through  the  water,  which 
opened  a  way  before  him  (such  was  the  power  of  the 
magic  sword),  he  soon  regained  the  shore,  and  found 
himself  in  a  field  as  thickly  covered  with  precious 
stones  as  the  sky  is  with  stars. 

Orlando  crossed  the  field,  nor  tempted  to  delay  his 
enterprise  by  gathering  any  of  the  brilliant  gems  spread 
all  around  him.  He  next  passed  into  a  flowery 
meadow  planted  with  trees,  covered  with  fruit  and 
flowers,  and  full  of  all  imaginable  delights. 

In  the  middle  of  this  meadow  was  a  fountain,  and 
fast  by  it  lay  Morgana  asleep  ;  a  lady  of  a  lovely 
aspect,  dressed  in  white  and  vermilion  garments,  her 
forehead  well  furnished  with  hair,  while  she  had 
scarcely  any  behind. 

While  Orlando  stood  in  silence  contemplating  her 
beauty  he  heard  a  voice  exclaim,  "  Seize  the  fairy  by 
the  forelock,  if  thou  hopest  fair  success."  But  his 
attention  was  arrested  by  another  object,  and  he 
heeded  not  the  warning.  He  saw  on  a  sudden  an 
array  of  towers,  pinnacles  and  columns,  palaces  with 
balconies  and  windows,  extended  alleys  with  trees,  in 
short  a  scene  of  architectural  magnificence  surpassing 
all  he  had  ever  beheld.  While  he  stood  gazing  in 
silent  astonishment  the  scene  slowly  melted  away  and 
disappeared.1 

When  he  had  recovered  from  his  amazement  he 
looked  again  toward  the  fountain.  The  fairy  had 
awaked  and  risen,  and  was  dancing  round  its  border 
with  the  lightness  of  a  leaf,  timing  her  footsteps  to 
this  song  : 

1  This  is  a  poetical  description  of  a  phenomenon  which  Is  said  to 
be  really  exhibited  in  the  strait  of  Messina,  between  Sicily  and 
Calabria.  It  is  called  Fata  Morgana,  ot  Mirage. 


RINALDO   AND   ORLANDO.  45 

"  Who  in  this  world  would  wealth  and  treasure  share, 
Honor,  delight,  and  state,  and  what  is  best, 
Quick  let  him  catch  me  by  the  lock  of  hair 
Which  flutters  from  my  forehead  ;  and  be  blest. 

"  But  let  him  not  the  proffered  good  forbear, 
Nor  till  he  seize  the  fleeting  blessing  rest  ; 
For  present  loss  is  sought  in  vain  to-morrow, 
And  the  deluded  wretch  is  left  in  sorrow." 

The  fairy,  having  sung  thus,  bounded  off,  and  fled 
from  the  flowery  meadow  over  a  high  and  inaccessible 
mountain.  Orlando  pursued  her  through  thorns  and 
rocks,  while  the  sky  gradually  became  overcast,  and  at 
last  he  was  assailed  by  tempest,  lightning,  and  hail. 

While  he  thus  pursued,  a  pale  and  meagre  woman 
issued  from  a  cave,  armed  with  a  whip,  and,  treading 
close  upon  his  steps,  scourged  him  with  vigorous 
strokes.  Her  name  was  Repentance,  and  she  told 
him  it  was  her  office  to  punish  those  who  neglected 
to  obey  the  voice  of  Prudence,  and  seize  the  fairy 
Fortune  when  he  might. 

Orlando,  furious  at  this  chastisement,  turned  upon 
his  tormentor,  but  might  as  well  have  stricken  the 
wind.  Finding  it  useless  to  resist,  he  resumed  his 
chase  of  the  fairy,  gained  upon  her,  and  made  frequent 
snatches  at  her  white  and  vermilion  garments,  which 
still  eluded  his  grasp.  At  "last,  on  her  turning  her 
head  for  an  instant,  he  profited  by  the  chance,  and 
seized  her  by  the  forelock.  In  an  instant  the  tempest 
ceased,  the  sky  became  serene,  and  Repentance  re- 
treated to  her  cave. 

Orlando  now  demanded  of  Morgana  the  keys  of 
her  prison,  and  the  fairy,  feigning  a  complacent 
aspect,  delivered  up  a  key  of  silver,  bidding  him  to 


46  LEGENDS   OP   CHARLEMAGNE. 

be  cautious  in  the  use  of  it,  since  to  break  the  lock 
would  be  to  involve  himself  and  all  in  inevitable  de- 
struction ;  a  caution  which  gave  the  Count  room  for 
long  meditation,  and  led  him  to  consider 

How  few  amid  the  suitors  who  importune 

The  dame,  know  how  to  turn  the  keys  of  Fortune. 

Keeping  the  fairy  still  fast  by  the  forelock,  Orlando 
proceeded  toward  the  prison,  turned  the  key,  without 
occasioning  the  mischiefs  apprehended,  and  delivered 
the  prisoners. 

Among  these  were  Florismart,  Rinaldo,  and  many 
others  of  the  bravest  knights  of  France.  Morgana 
had  disappeared,  and  the  knights,  under  the  guidance 
of  Orlando,  retraced  the  path  by  which  he  had  come. 
They  soon  reached  the  field  of  treasure.  Rinaldo, 
finding  himself  amidst  this  mass  of  wealth,  remembered 
his  needy  garrison  of  Montalban,  and  could  not  resist 
the  temptation  of  seizing  part  of  the  booty.  In  par- 
ticular a  golden  chain,  studded  with  diamonds,  was  too 
much  for  his  self-denial,  and  he  took  it  and  was  bear- 
ing it  off,  notwithstanding  th_  remonstrances  of  Orlan- 
do, when  a  violent  wind  caught  him  and  whirled  him 
back,  as  he  approached  the  gate.  This  happened  a 
second  and  a  third  time,  and  Rinaldo  at  length  yielded 
to  necessity,  rather  than  to  the  entreaties  of  his  friends, 
and  cast  away  his  prize. 

They  soon  reached  the  bridge  and  passed  over  with- 
out hinderance  to  the  other  side,  where  they  found 
the  trophy  decorated  with  their  arms.  Here  each 
knight  resumed  his  own,  and  all,  except  the  paladins 
and  their  friends,  separated  as  their  inclinations  or 
duty  prompted.  Dudon,  the  Dane,  one  of  the  rescued 


THE    INVASION   OF    FRANCE.  47 

knights,  informed  the  cousins  that  he  had  been  made 
prisoner  by  Morgana  while  in  the  discharge  of  an  em- 
bassy to  them  from  Charlemagne,  who  called  upon 
them  to  return  to  the  defence  of  Christendom.  Orlan- 
do was  too  much  fascinated  by  Angelica  to  obey  this 
summons,  and,  followed  by  the  faithful  Florismart,  who 
would  not  leave  him,  returned  towards  Albracca.  Ri- 
naldo,  Dudon,  Iroldo,  Prasildo,  and  the  others  took 
their  way  toward  the  west. 


THE   INVASION    OF    FRANCE. 

AGRAMANT,  King  of  Africa,  convoked  the  kings, 
his  vassals,  to  deliberate  in  council.  He  reminded 
them  of  the  injuries  he  had  sustained  from  France, 
that  his  father  had  fallen  in  battle  with  Charlemagne, 
and  that  his  early  years  had  hitherto  not  allowed  him 
to  wipe  out  the  stain  of  former  defeats.  He  now  pro- 
posed to  them  to  carry  war  into  France. 

Sobrino,  his  wisest  councillor,  opposed  the  project, 
representing  the  rashness  of  it  ;  but  Rodomont,  the 
young  and  fiery  king  of  Algiers,  denounced  Sobrino' s 
counsel  as  base  and  cowardly,  declaring  himself  impa- 
tient for  the  enterprise.  The  king  of  the  Garamantes, 
venerable  for  his  age  and  renowned  for  his  prophetic 
lore,  interposed,  and  assured  the  King  that  such  an 
attempt  would  be  sure  to  fail,  unless  he  could  first 
get  on  his  side  a  youth  marked  out  by  destiny  as  the 
fitting  compeer  of  the  most  puissant  knights  of  France, 
the  young  Rogero,  descended  in  direct  line  from 
Hector  of  Troy.  This  prince  was  now  a  dweller 
upon  the  mountain  Carena,  where  Atlantes,  his  foster- 


48  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

father,  a  powerful  magician,  kept  him  in  retirement, 
having  discovered  by  his  art  that  his  pupil  would  be 
lost  to  him  if  allowed  to  mingle  with  the  world.  To 
break  the  spells  of  Atlantes,  and  draw  Rogero  from 
his  retirement,  one  only  means  was  to  be  found.  It 
was  a  ring  possessed  by  Angelica,  Princess  of  Cathay, 
which  was  a  talisman  against  all  enchantments.  If 
this  ring  could  be  procured  all  would  go  well  ;  with- 
out it  the  enterprise  was  desperate. 

Rodomont  treated  this  declaration  of  the  old  prophet 
with  scorn,  and  it  would  probably  have  been  held  of 
little  weight  by  the  council,  had  not  the  aged  king, 
oppressed  by  the  weight  of  years,  expired  in  the  very 
act  of  reaffirming  his  prediction.  This  made  so  deep 
an  impression  on  the  council  that  it  was  unanimously 
resolved  to  postpone  the  war  until  an  effort  should  be 
made  to  win  Rogero  to  the  camp. 

King  Agramant  thereupon  proclaimed  that  the  sov- 
ereignty of  a  kingdom  should  be  the  reward  of  whoever 
should  succeed  in  obtaining  the  ring  of  Angelica. 
Brunello,  the  dwarf,  the  subtlest  thief  in  all  Africa, 
undertook  to  procure  it. 

In  prosecution  of  this  design,  he  made  the  best  of 
his  way  to  Angelica's  kingdom,  and  arrived  beneath 
the  walls  of  Albracca  while  the  besieging  army  was 
encamped  before  the  fortress.  While  the  attention  of 
the  garrison  was  absorbed  by  the  battle  that  raged 
below  he  scaled  the  walls,  approached  the  Princess 
unnoticed,  slipped  the  ring  from  her  finger,  and  escaped 
unobserved.  He  hastened  to  the  seaside,  and,  finding 
a  vessel  ready  to  sail,  embarked,  and  arrived  at  Biserta, 
in  Africa.  Here  he  found  Agramant  impatient  for 
the  talisman  which  was  to  foil  the  enchantments  of 
Atlantes  and  to  put  Rogero  into  his  hands.  The 


THE    INVASION    OF   FRANCE.  49 

dwarf,  kneeling  before  the  king,  presented  him  with 
the  ring,  and  Agramant,  delighted  at  the  success  of  his 
mission,  crowned  him  in  recompense  King  of  Tingi- 
tana. 

All  were  now  anxious  to  go  in  quest  of  Rogero. 
The  cavalcade  accordingly  departed,  and  in  due  time 
arrived  at  the  mountain  of  Carena. 

At  the  bottom  of  this  was  a  fruitful  and  well-wooded 
plain,  watered  by  a  large  river,  and  from  this  plain 
was  descried  a  beautiful  garden  on  the  mountain-top, 
which  contained  the  mansion  of  Atlantes  ;  but  the  ring, 
which  discovered  what  was  before  invisible,  could  not, 
though  it  revealed  this  paradise,  enable  Agramant  or 
his  followers  to  enter  it.  So  steep  and  smooth  was 
the  rock  by  nature,  that  even  Brunello  failed  in  every 
attempt  to  scale  it.  He  did  not,  for  this,  despair  of 
accomplishing  the  object  ;  but,  having  obtained  Agra- 
mant's  consent,  caused  the  assembled  courtiers  and 
knights  to  celebrate  a  tournament  upon  the  plain  below. 
This  was  done  with  the  view  of  seducing  Rogero  from 
his  fastness,  and  the  stratagem  was  attended  with 
success. 

Rogero  joined  the  tourney,  and  was  presented  by 
Agramant  with  a  spendid  horse,  Frontino,  and  a 
magnificent  sword.  Having  learned  from  Agramant 
his  intended  invasion  of  France,  he  gladly  consented  to 
join  the  expedition. 

Rodomont,  meanwhile,  was  too  impatient  to  wait 
for  Agramant's  arrangements,  and  embarked  with  all 
the  forces  he  could  raise,  made  good  his  landing  on 
the  coast  of  France,  and  routed  the  Christians  in  several 
encounters.  Previously  to  this,  however,  Gano,  or 
Ganelon  (as  he  is  sometimes  called),  the  traitor,  enemy 
of  Orlando  and  the  other  nephews  of  Charlemagne, 


50  LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

had  entered  into  a  traitorous  correspondence  whh 
Marsilius,  the  Saracen  king  of  Spain,  whom  he  invited 
into  France.  Marsilius,  thus  encouraged,  led  an  army 
across  the  frontiers,  and  joined  Rodomont.  This  was 
the  situation  of  things  when  Rinaldo  and  the  other 
knights  who  had  obeyed  the  summons  of  Dudon  set 
forward  on  their  return  to  France. 

When  they  arrived  at  Buda  in  Hungary  they  found 
the  king  of  that  country  about  despatching  his  son, 
Ottachiero,  with  an  army  to  the  succor  of  Charle- 
magne. Delighted  with  the  arrival  of  Rinaldo,  he 
placed  his  son  and  troops  under  his  command.  In  due 
time  the  army  arrived  on  the  frontiers  of  France,  and, 
united  with  the  troops  of  Desiderius,  king  of  Lom- 
bardy,  poured  down  into  Provence.  The  confederate 
armies  h-ad  not  marched  many  days  through  this  gay 
tract  before  they  heard  a  crash  of  drums  and  trumpets 
behind  the  hills,  which  spoke  the  conflict  between  the 
paynims,  led  by  Rodomont,  and  the  Christian  forces. 
Rinaldo,  witnessing  from  a  mountain  the  prowess  of 
Rodomont,  left  his  troops  in  charge  of  his  friends,  and 
galloped  towards  him  with  his  lance  in  rest.  The 
impulse  was  irresistible,  and  Rodomont  was  unhorsed. 
But  Rinaldo,  unwilling  to  avail  himself  of  his  advantage, 
galloped  back  to  the  hill,  and  having  secured  Bayard 
among  the  baggage,  returned  to  finish  the  combat  on  foot. 

During  this  interval  the  battle  had  become  general, 
the  Hungarians  were  routed,  and  Rinaldo,  on  his  re- 
turn, had  the  mortification  to  find  that  Ottachiero  was 
wounded,  and  Dudon  taken  prisoner.  While  he 
sought  Rodomont  in  order  to  renew  the  combat  a  new 
sound  of  drums  and  trumpets  was  heard,  and  Charle- 
magne, with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  was  descried 
advancing  in  battle  array. 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE.  51 

Rodomont,  seeing  this,  mounted  the  horse  of  Dudon, 
left  Rinaldo,  who  was  on  foot,  and  galloped  off  to 
encounter  this  new  enemy. 

Agramant,  accompanied  by  Rogero,  had  by  this 
time  made  good  his  landing,  and  joined  Rodomont 
with  all  his  forces.  Rogero  eagerly  embraced  this 
first  opportunity  of  distinguishing  himself,  and  spread 
terror  wherever  he  went,  encountering  in  turn  and 
overthrowing  many  of  the  bravest  knights  of  France. 
At  length  he  found  himself  opposite  to  Rinaldo,  who, 
being  interrupted,  as  we  have  said,  in  his  combat  with 
Rodomont,  and  unable  to  follow  him,  being  on  foot, 
was  shouting  to  his  late  foe  to  return  and  finish  their 
combat.  Rogero  also  was  on  foot,  and  seeing  the 
Christian  knight  so  eager  for  a  contest,  proffered  him- 
self to  supply  the  place  of  his  late  antagonist.  Ri- 
naldo saw  at  a  glance  that  the  Moorish  prince  was  a 
champion  worthy  of  his  arm,  and  gladly  accepted  the 
defiance.  The  combat  was  stoutly  maintained  for  a 
time  ;  but  now  fortune  declared  decisively  in  favor  of 
the  infidel  army,  and  Charlemagne's  forces  gave  way 
at  all  points  in  irreparable  confusion.  The  two  com- 
batants were  separated  by  the  crowd  of  fugitives  and 
pursurers,  and  Rinaldo  hastened  to  recover  possession 
of  his  horse.  But  Bayard,  in  the  confusion,  had  got 
loose,  and  Rinaldo  followed  him  into  a  thick  wood, 
thus  becoming  effectually  separated  from  Rogero. 

Rogero,  also  seeking  his  horse  in  the  medley,  came 
where  two  warriors  were  engaged  in  mortal  combat. 
Though  he  knew  not  who  they  were,  he  could  dis- 
tinguish that  one  was  a  paynim  and  the  other  a  Chris- 
tian ;  and  moved  by  the  spirit  of  courtesy  he 
approached  them  and  exclaimed,  "  Let  him  of  the 
two  who  worships  Christ  pause,  and  hear  what  I  have 


J2  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

to  say.  The  army  of  Charles  is  routed  and  in  flight, 
so  that  if  he  wishes  to  follow  his  leader  he  has  no  time 
for  delay."  The  Christian  knight,  who  was  none 
other  than  Bradamantc,  a  female  warrior,  in  prowess 
equal  to  the  best  of  knights,  was  thunderstruck  with 
the  tidings,  and  would  gladly  leave  the  contest  unde- 
cided, and  retire  from  the  field  ;  but  Rodomont,  her 
antagonist,  would  by  no  means  consent.  Rogero, 
indignant  at  his  discourtesy,  insisted  upon  her  depart- 
ure, while  he  took  up  her  quarrel  with  Rodomont. 

The  combat,  obstinately  maintained  on  both  sides, 
was  interrupted  by  the  return  of  Bradamante.  Find- 
ing herself  unable  to  overtake  the  fugitives,  and  reluc- 
tant to  leave  to  another  the  burden  and  risk  of  a 
contest  which  belonged  to  herself,  she  had  returned  to 
reclaim  the  combat.  She  arrived,  however,  when  her 
champion  had  dealt  his  enemy  such  a  blow  as  obliged 
him  to  drop  both  his  sword  and  bridle.  Rogero,  dis- 
daining to  profit  by  his  adversary's  defenceless  situa- 
tion, sat  apart  upon  his  horse,  while  that  of  Rodo- 
mont bore  his  rider,  stunned  and  stupefied,  about  the 
field. 

Bradamante  approached  Rogero,  conceiving  a  yet 
higher  opinion  of  his  valor  on  beholding  such  an  in- 
stance of  forbearance.  She  addressed  him,  excusing 
herself  for  leaving  him  exposed  to  an  enemy  from  his 
interference  in  her  cause  ;  pleading  her  duty  to  her 
sovereign  as  the  motive.  While  she  spoke  Rodomont, 
recovered  from  his  confusion,  rode  up  to  them.  His 
bearing  was,  however,  changed  ;  and  he  disclaimed 
all  thoughts  of  further  contest  with  one  who,  he  said, 
"had  already  conquered  him  by  his  courtesy."  So 
saying,  he  quitted  his  antagonist,  picked  up  his  sword, 
and  spurred  out  of  sight. 


THE  INVASION  OF  FRANCE.      53 

Bradamante  was  now.  again  desirous  of  retiring  from 
the  field,  and  Rogero  insisted  on  accompanying  her, 
though  yet  unaware  of  her  sex. 

As  they  pursued  their  way,  she  inquired  the  name 
and  quality  of  her  new  associate  ;  and  Rogero  informed 
her  of  his  nation  and  family.  He  told  her  that  Asty- 
anax,  the  son  of  Hector  of  Troy,  established  the  king- 
dom of  Messina  in  Sicily.  From  him  were  derived 
two  branches,  which  gave  origin  to  twd  families  of 
renown.  From  one  sprang  the  royal  race  of  Pepin 
and  Charlemagne,  and  from  the  other,  that  of  Reggio, 
in  Italy.  "  From  that  of  Reggio  am  I  derived,"  he 
continued.  "  My  mother,  driven  from  her  home  by 
the  chance  of  war,  died  in  giving  me  life,  and  I  was 
taken  in  charge  by  a  sage  enchanter,  who  trained  me 
to  feats  of  arms  amidst  the  dangers  of  the  desert  and 
the  chase." 

Having  thus  ended  his  tale,  Rogero  entreated  a 
similar  return  of  courtesy  from  his  companion,  who 
replied,  without  disguise,  that  she  was  of  the  race  of 
Clermont,  and  sister  to  Rinaldo,  whose  fame  was  per- 
haps known  to  him.  Rogero,  much  moved  by  this 
intelligence,  entreated  her  to  take  off  her  helmet,  and 
at  the  discovery  of  her  face  remained  transported  with 
delight. 

While  absorbed  in  this  contemplation,  an  unexpected 
danger  assailed  them.  A  party  which  was  placed  in  a 
wood,  in  order  to  intercept  the  retreating  Christians, 
broke  from  its  ambush  upon  the  pair,  and  Bradamante, 
who  was  uncasqued,  was  wounded  in  the  head. 
Rogero  was  in  a  fury  at  this  attack  ;  and  Bradamante, 
replacing  her  helmet,  joined  him  in  taking  speedy  ven- 
geance on  their  enemies.  They  cleared  the  field  of 
them,  but  became  separated  in  the  pursuit,  and  Rogero, 


54  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

quitting  the  chase,  wandered  by  hill  and  vale  in  search 
of  her  whom  he  had  no  sooner  found  than  lost. 

While  pursuing  this  quest  he  fell  in  with  two  knights, 
whom  he  joined,  and  engaged  them  to  assist  him  in  the 
search  of  his  companion,  describing  her  arms,  but  con- 
cealing, from  a  certain  feeling  of  jealousy,  her  quality 
and  sex. 

It  was  evening  when  they  joined  company,  and  hav- 
ing ridden  together  through  the  night  the  morning  was 
beginning  to  break,  when  one  of  the  strangers,  fixing 
his  eyes  upon  Rogero's  shield,  demanded  of  him  by 
what  right  he  bore  the  Trojan  arms.  Rogero  declared 
his  origin  and  race,  and  then,  in  his  turn,  interrogated 
the  inquirer  as  to  his  pretensions  to  the  cognizance  of 
Hector,  which  he  bore.  The  stranger  replied,  "  My 
name  is  Mandricardo,  son  of  Agrican,  the  Tartar  king, 
whom  Orlando  treacherously  slew.  I  say  treacherously, 
for  in  fair  fight  he  could  not  have  done  it.  It  is  in 
search  of  him  that  I  have  come  to  France,  to  take 
vengeance  for  my  father,  and  to  wrest  from  him  Durin- 
dana,  that  famous  sword,  which  belongs  to  me,  and 
not  to  him."  When  the  knights  demanded  to  know 
by  what  right  he  claimed  Durindana,  Mandricardo  thus 
related  his  history  : 

"  I  had  been,  before  the  death  of  my  father,  a  wild 
and  reckless  youth.  That  event  awakened  my  energies, 
and  drove  me  forth  to  seek  for  vengeance.  Determined 
to  owe  success  to  nothing  but  my  own  exertions,  I 
departed  without  attendants  or  horse  or  arms.  Travel- 
ling thus  alone,  and  on  foot,  I  espied  one  day  a  pavilion, 
pitched  near  a  fountain,  and  entered  it,  intent  on  ad- 
venture. I  found  therein  a  damsel  of  gracious  aspect, 
who  replied  to  my  inquiries  that  the  fountain  was  the 
work  of  a  fairy,  whose  castle  stood  beyond  a  neighbor- 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE.  55 

ing  hill,  where  she  kept  watch  over  a  treasure  which 
many  knights  had  tried  to  win,  but  fruitlessly,  having 
lost  their  life  or  liberty  in  the  attempt.  This  treasure 
was  the  armor  of  Hector,  prince  of  Troy,  whom 
Achilles  treacherously  slew.  Nothing  was  wanting 
but  his  sword,  Durindana,  and  this  had  fallen  into  the 
possession  of  a  queen  named  Penthesilea,  from  whom 
it  passed  through  her  descendants  to  Almontes,  whom 
Orlando  slew,  and  thus  became  possessed  of  the  sword. 
The  rest  of  Hector's  arms  were  saved  and  carried  off 
by  ^)neas,  from  whom  this  fairy  received  them  in  rec- 
ompense of  service  rendered.  « If  you  have  the  courage 
to  attempt  their  acquisition,'  said  the  damsel,  'I  will 
be  your  guide.'  ' 

Mandricardo  went  on  to  say  that  he  eagerly  embraced 
the  proposal,  and  being  provided  with  horse  and  armor 
by  the  damsel,  set  forth  on  his  enterprise,  the  lady 
accompanying  him. 

As  they  rode  she  explained  the  dangers  of  the  quest. 
The  armor  was  defended  by  a  champion,  one  of  the 
numerous  unsuccessful  adventurers  for  the  prize,  all  of 
whom  had  been  made  prisoners  by  the  fairy,  and  com- 
pelled to  take  their  turn,  day  by  day,  in  defending  the 
arms  against  all  comers.  Thus  speaking  they  arrived 
at  the  castle,  which  was  of  alabaster,  overlaid  with  gold. 
Before  it,  on  a  lawn,  sat  an  armed  knight  on  horseback, 
who  was  none  other  than  Gradasso,  king  of  Sericane, 
who,  in  his  return  home  from  his  unsuccessful  inroad 
into  France,  had  fallen  into  the  power  of  the  fairy,  and 
was  held  to  do  her  bidding.  Mandricardo,  upon  seeing 
him,  dropt  his  visor,  and  laid  his  lance  in  rest.  The 
champion  of  the  castle  was  equally  ready,  and  each 
spurred  towards  his  opponent.  They  met  one  another 
with  equal  force,  splintered  their  spears,  and,  returning 


56  LEGENDS   OP   CHARLEMAGNE. 

to  the  charge,  encountered  with  their  swords.  The 
contest  was  long  and  doubtful,  when  Mandricardo, 
determined  to  bring  it  to  an  end,  threw  his  arms  about 
Gradasso,  grappled  with  him,  and  both  fell  to  the 
ground.  Mandricardo,  however,  fell  uppermost,  and, 
preserving  his  advantage,  compelled  Gradasso  to  yield 
himself  conquered.  The  damsel  now  interfered,  con- 
gratulating the  victor,  and  consoling  the  vanquished  as 
well  as  she  might. 

Mandricardo  and  the  damsel  proceeded  to  the  gate 
of  the  castle,  which  they  found  undefended.  As  they 
entered  they  beheld  a  shield  suspended  from  a  pilaster 
of  gold.  The  device  was  a  white  eagle  on  an  azure 
field,  in  memory  of  the  bird  of  Jove,  which  bore  away 
Ganymede,  the  flower  of  the  Phrygian  race.  Beneath 
was  engraved  the  following  couplet  : 

"Let  none  with  hand  profane  my  buckler  wrong 
Unless  he  be  himself  as  Hector  strong." 

The  damsel,  alighting  from  her  palfrey,  made  obei- 
sance to  the  arms,  bending  herself  to  the  ground.  The 
Tartar  king  bowed  his  head  with  equal  reverence  ; 
then  advancing  towards  the  shield,  touched  it  with  his 
sword.  Thereupon  an  earthquake  shook  the  ground, 
and  the  way  by  which  he  had  entered  closed.  An- 
other and  an  opposite  gate  opened,  and  displayed  a 
field  bristling  with  stalks  and  grain  of  gold.  The  dam- 
sel, upon  this,  told  him  that  he  had  no  means  of 
retreat  but  by  cutting  down  the  harvest  which  was 
before  him,  and  by  uprooting  a  tree  which  grew  in  the 
middle  of  the  field.  Mandricardo,  without  replying, 
began  to  mow  the  harvest  with  his  sword,  but  had 
scarce  smitten  thrice  when  he  perceived  that  every  stalk 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE.  57 

that  fell  was  instantly  transformed  into  some  poisonous 
or  ravenous  animal,  which  prepared  to  assail  him. 
Instructed  by  the  damsel,  he  snatched  up  a  stone  and 
cast  it  among  the  pack.  A  strange  wonder  followed  ; 
for  no  sooner  had  the  stone  fallen  among  the  beasts, 
than  they  turned  their  rage  against  one  another,  and 
rent  each  other  to  pieces.  Mandricardo  did  not  stop 
to  marvel  at  the  miracle,  but  proceeded  to  fulfil  his 
task,  and  uproot  the  tree.  He  clasped  it  round  the 
trunk,  and  made  vigorous  efforts  to  tear  it  up  by  the 
roots.  At  each  effort  fell  a  shower  of  leaves,  that 
were  instantly  changed  into  birds  of  prey,  which 
attacked  the  knight,  flapping  their  wings  in  his  face, 
with  horrid  screeching.  But  undismayed  by  this  new 
annoyance,  he  continued  to  tug  at  the  trunk  till  it 
yielded  to  his  efforts.  A  burst  of  wind  and  thunder 
followed,  and  the  hawks  and  vultures  flew  screaming 
away. 

But  these  only  gave  place  to  a  new  foe  ;  for  from 
the  hole  made  by  tearing  up  the  tree  issued  a  furious 
serpent,  and,  darting  at  Mandricardo,  wound  herself 
about  his  limbs  with  a  strain  that  almost  crushed  him. 
Fortune,  however,  again  stood  his  friend,  for,  writh- 
ing under  the  folds  of  the  monster,  he  fell  backwards 
into  the  hole,  and  his  enemy  was  crushed  beneath  his 
weight. 

Mandricardo,  when  he  was  somewhat  recovered, 
and  assured  himself  of  the  destruction  of  the  serpent, 
began  to  contemplate  the  place  into  which  he  had 
fallen,  and  saw  that  he  was  in  a  vault,  incrusted 
with  costly  metals,  and  illuminated  by  a  live  coal. 
In  the  middle  was  a  sort  of  ivory  bier,  and  upon 
this  was  extended  what  appeared  to  be  a  knight  in 
armor,  but  was  in  truth  an  empty  trophy,  composed 


58  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

of  the  rich  and  precious  arms  once  Hector's,  to  which 
nothing  was  wanting  but  the  sword.  While  Mandri- 
cardo  stood  contemplating  the  prize  a  door  opened 
behind  him,  and  a  bevy  of  fair  damsels  entered,  danc- 
ing, who,  taking  up  the  armor  piece  by  piece,  led 
him  away  to  the  place  where  the  shield  was  suspended  ; 
where  he  found  the  fairy  of  the  castle  seated  in  state. 
By  her  he  was  invested  with  the  arms  he  had  won, 
first  pledging  his  solemn  oath  to  wear  no  other  blade 
but  Durindana,  which  he  was  to  wrest  from  Orlando, 
and  thus  complete  the  conquest  of  Hector's  arms. 


THE   INVASION    OF   FRANCE. 

(  Continued. ) 

MANDRICARDO,  having  completed  his  story,  now 
turned  to  Rogero,  and  proposed  that  arms  should  de- 
cide which  of  the  two  was  most  worthy  to  bear  the 
symbol  of  the  Trojan  knight. 

Rogero  felt  no  other  objection  to  this  proposal  than 
the  scruple  which  arose  on  observing  that  his  antago- 
nist was  without  a  sword.  Mandricardo  insisted  that 
this  need  be  no  impediment,  since  his  oath  prevented 
him  from  using  a  sword  until  he  should  have  achieved 
the  conquest  of  Durindana. 

This  was  no  sooner  said  than  a  new  antagonist 
started  up  in  Gradasso,  who  now  accompanied  Man- 
dricardo. Gradasso  vindicated  his  prior  right  to  Du- 
rindana, to  obtain  which  he  had  embarked  (as  was 
related  in  the  beginning)  in  that  bold  inroad  upon 
France.  A  quarrel  was  thus  kindled  between  the 
kings  of  Tartary  and  Sericane.  While  the  dispute 


THE  INVASION  OF  FRANCE.      59 

was  raging  a  knight  arrived  upon  the  ground,  accom- 
panied by  a  damsel,  to  whom  Rogero  related  the 
cause  of  the  strife.  The  knight  was  Florismart,  and 
his  companion  Flordelis.  Florismart  succeeded  in 
bringing  the  two  champions  to  accord,  by  informing 
them  that  he  could  bring  them  to  the  presence  of  Or- 
lando, the  master  of  Durindana. 

Gradasso  and  Mandricardo  readily  made  truce,  in 
order  to  accompany  Florismart,  nor  would  Rogero  be 
left  behind. 

As  they  proceeded  on  their  quest  they  were  met 
by  a  dwarf,  who  entreated  their  assistance  in  behalf 
of  his  lady,  who  had  been  carried  off  by  an  enchanter, 
mounted  on  a  winged  horse.  However  unwilling  to 
leave  the  question  of  the  sword  undecided,  it  was  not 
possible  for  the  knights  to  resist  this  appeal.  Two 
of  their  number,  Gradasso  and  Rogero,  therefore  ac- 
companied the  dwarf.  Mandricardo  persisted  in  his 
search  for  Orlando,  and  Florismart,  with  Flordelis, 
pursued  their  way  to  the  camp  of  Charlemagne. 

Atlantes,  the  enchanter,  who  had  brought  up  Rogero, 
and  cherished  for  him  the  warmest  affection,  knew  by 
his  art  that  his  pupil  was  destined  to  be  severed  from 
him,  and  converted  to  the  Christian  faith  through  the 
influence  of  Bradamante,  that  royal  maiden  with  whom 
chance  had  brought  him  acquainted.  Thinking  to 
thwart  the  will  of  Heaven  in  this  respect,  he  now  put 
forth  all  his  arts  to  entrap  Rogero  into  his  power. 
By  the  aid  of  his  subservient  demons  he  reared  a 
castle  on  an  inaccessible  height,  in  the  Pyrenean  moun- 
tains, and  to  make  it  a  pleasant  abode  to  his  pupil, 
contrived  to  entrap  and  convey  thither  knights  and 
damsels  many  a  one,  whom  chance  had  brought  into 
the  vicinity  of  his  castle.  Here,  in  a  sort  of  sensual 


60  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

paradise,  they  were  but  too  willing  to  forget  glory 
and  duty,  and  to  pass  their  time  in  indolent  enjoy- 
ment. 

It  was  by  the  enchanter  that  the  dwarf  had  now 
been  sent  to  tempt  the  knights  into  his  power. 

But  we  must  now  return  to  Rinaldo,  whom  we  left 
interrupted  in  his  combat  with  Rodomont.  In  search 
of  his  late  antagonist  and  intent  on  bringing  their 
combat  to  a  decision  he  entered  the  forest  of  Arden, 
whither  he  suspected  Rodomont  had  gone.  While 
engaged  on  this  quest  he  was  surprised  by  the  vision 
of  a  beautiful  child  dancing  naked,  with  three  damsels 
as  beautiful  as  himself.  While  he  was  lost  in  admi- 
ration at  the  sight  the  child  approached  him,  and, 
throwing  at  him  handfuls  of  roses  and  lilies,  struck  him 
from  his  horse.  He  was  no  sooner  down  than  he  was 
seized  by  the  dancers,  by  whom  he  was  dragged  about 
and  scourged  with  flowers  till  he  fell  into  a  swoon. 
When  he  began  to  revive  one  of  the  group  approached 
him,  and  told  him  that  his  punishment  was  the  con- 
sequence of  his  rebellion  against  that  power  before 
whom  all  things  bend  ;  that  there  was  but  one  remedy 
to  heal  the  wounds  that  had  been  inflicted,  and  that 
was  to  drink  of  the  waters  of  Love.  Then  they  left 
him. 

Rinaldo,  sore  and  faint,  dragged  himself  toward  a 
fountain  which  flowed  near  by,  and,  being  parched 
with  thirst,  drank  greedily  and  almost  unconsciously 
of  the  water,  which  was  sweet  to  the  taste,  but  bitter 
at  the  heart.  After  repeated  draughts  he  recovered 
his  strength  and  recollection,  and  found  himself  in  the 
same  place  where  Angelica  had  formerly  awakened 
him  with  a  rain  of  flowers,  and  whence  he  had  fled 
in  contempt  of  her  courtesy. 


THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE.  6 1 

This  remembrance  of  the  scene  was  followed  by  the 
recognition  of  his  crime  ;  and,  repenting  bitterly  his 
ingratitude,  he  leaped  upon  Bayard,  with  the  intention 
of  hastening  to  Angelica's  country,  and  soliciting  his 
pardon  at  her  feet. 

Let  us  now  retrace  our  steps,  and  revert  to  the  time 
when  the  paladins,  having  learned  from  Dudon  the 
summons  of  Charlemagne  to  return  to  France  to  repel 
the  invaders,  had  all  obeyed  the  command  with  the 
exception  of  Orlando,  whose  passion  for  Angelica  still 
held  him  in  attendance  on  her.  Orlando,  arriving 
before  Albracca,  found  it  closely  beleaguered.  He, 
however,  made  his  way  into  the  citadel,  and  related 
his  adventures  to  Angelica,  from  the  time  of  his  de- 
parture up  to  his  separation  from  Rinaldo  and  the  rest, 
when  they  departed  to  the  assistance  of  Charlemagne. 
Angelica,  in  return,  described  the  distresses  of  the  gar- 
rison, and  the  force  of  the  besiegers  ;  and  in  conclusion 
prayed  Orlando  to  favor  her  escape  from  the  pressing 
danger,  and  escort  her  into  France.  Orlando,  who 
did  not  suspect  that  love  for  Rinaldo  was  her  secret 
motive,  joyfully  agreed  to  the  proposal,  and  the  sally 
was  resolved  upon. 

Leaving  lights  burning  in  the  fortress,  they  departed 
at  nightfall,  and  passed  in  safety  through  the  enemy's 
camp.  After  encountering  numerous  adventures  they 
reached  the  sea-side,  and  embarked  on  board  a  pinnace 
for  France.  The  vessel  arrived  safely,  and  the  travel- 
lers, disembarking  in  Provence,  pursued  their  way  by 
land.  One  day,  heated  and  weary,  they  sought  shel- 
ter from  the  sun  in  the  forest  of  Arden,  and  chance 
directed  Angelica  to  the  fountain  of  Disdain,  of  whose 
waters  she  eagerly  drank. 

Issuing  thence,  the  Count  and  damsel  encountered  a 


62  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

stranger-knight.  It  was  no  other  than  Rinaldo,  who 
was  just  on  the  point  of  setting  off  on  a  pilgrimage  in 
search  of  Angelica,  to  implore  her  pardon  for  his  in- 
sensibility, and  urge  his  new  found  passion.  Surprise 
and  delight  at  first  deprived  him  of  utterance,  but  soon 
recovering  himself,  he  joyfully  saluted  her,  claiming  her 
as  his,  and  exhorting  her  to  put  herself  under  his  pro- 
tection. His  presumption  was  repelled  by  Angelica 
with  disdain,  and  Orlando,  enraged  at  the  invasion  of 
his  rights,  challenged  him  to  decide  their  claims  by 
arms. 

Terrified  at  the  combat  which  ensued,  Angelica  fled 
amain  through  the  forest,  and  came  out  upon  a  plain 
covered  with  tents.  This  was  the  camp  of  Charle- 
magne, who  led  the  army  of  reserve  destined  to  sup- 
port the  troops  which  had  advanced  to  oppose  Marsilius. 
Charles  having  heard  the  damsel's  tale,  with  difficulty 
separated  the  two  cousins,  and  then  consigned  Angelica, 
as  the  cause  of  quarrel,  to  the  care  of  Namo,  Duke  of 
Bavaria,  promising  that  she  should  be  his  who  should 
best  deserve  her  in  the  impending  battle. 

But  these  plans  and  hopes  were  frustrated.  The 
Christian  army,  beaten  at  all  points,  fled  from  the  Sara- 
cens ;  and  Angelica,  indifferent  to  both  her  lovers, 
mounted  a  swift  palfrey  and  plunged  into  the  forest, 
rejoicing,  in  spite  of  her  terror,  at  having  regained  her 
liberty.  She  stopped  at  last  in  a  tufted  grove,  where  a 
gentle  zephyr  blew,  and  whose  young  trees  were 
watered  by  two  clear  runnels,  which  came  and  mingled 
their  waters,  making  a  pleasing  murmur.  Believing 
herself  far  from  Rinaldo,  and  overcome  by  fatigue  and 
the  summer  heat,  she  saw  with  delight  a  bank  covered 
with  flowers  so  thick  that  they  almost  hid  the  green  turf, 
inviting  her  to  alight  and  rest.  She  dismounted  from 


THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE.  63 

her  palfrey,  and  turned  him  loose  to  recruit  his  strength 
with  the  tender  grass  which  bordered  the  streamlets. 
Then,  in  a  sheltered  nook  tapestried  with  moss  and 
fenced  in  with  roses  and  hawthorn-flowers,  she  yielded 
herself  to  grateful  repose. 

She  had  not  slept  long  when  she  was  awakened  by 
the  noise  made  by  the  approach  of  a  horse.  Starting 
up,  she  saw  an  armed  knight  who  had  arrived  at  the 
bank  of  the  stream.  Not  knowing  whether  he  was  to 
be  feared  or  not,  her  heart  beat  with  anxiety.  She 
pressed  aside  the  leaves  to  allow  her  to  see  who  it  was, 
but  scarce  dared  to  breathe  for  fear  of  betraying  herself. 
Soon  the  knight  threw  himself  on  the  flowery  bank,  and 
leaning  his  head  on  his  hand  fell  into  a  profound  reverie. 
Then  arousing  himself  from  his  silence  he  began  to 
pour  forth  complaints,  mingled  with  deep  sighs.  Rivers 
of  tears  flowed  down  his  cheeks,  and  his  breast  seemed 
to  labor  with  a  hidden  flame.  "  Ah,  vain  regrets  !  " 
he  exclaimed  ;  "  cruel  fortune  !  others  triumph,  while 
I  endure  hopeless  misery  !  Better  a  thousand  times 
to  lose  life,  than  wear  a  chain  so  disgraceful  and  so 
oppressive  !  " 

Angelica  by  this  time  had  recognized  the  stranger, 
and  perceived  that  it  was  Sacripant,  king  of  Circassia, 
one  of  the  worthiest  of  her  suitors.  This  prince  had 
followed  Angelica  from  his  country,  at  the  very  gates 
of  the  day,  to  France,  where  he  heard  with  dismay  that 
she  was  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Paladin  Orlando, 
and  that  the  Emperor  had  announced  his  decree  to 
award  her  as  the  prize  of  valor  to  that  one  of  his 
nephews  who  should  best  deserve  her. 

As  Sacripant  continued  to  lament,  Angelica,  who 
had  always  opposed  the  hardness  of  marble  to  his 
sighs,  thought  with  herself  that  nothing  forbade  her 


64  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

employing  his  good  offices  in  this  unhappy  crisis. 
Though  firmly  resolved  never  to  accept  him  as  a 
spouse,  she  yet  felt  the  necessity  of  giving  him  a 
gleam  of  hope  in  reward  for  the  service  she  required 
of  him.  All  at  once,  like  Diana,  she  stepped  forth 
from  the  arbor.  "  May  the  gods  preserve  thee,"  she 
said,  '« and  put  far  from  thee  all  hard  thoughts  of 
me  !  "  Then  she  told  him  all  that  had  befallen  her 
since  she  parted  with  him  at  her  father's  court,  and 
how  she  had  availed  herself  of  Orlando's  protection  to 
escape  from  the  beleaguered  city.  At  that  moment 
the  noise  of  horse  and  armor  was  heard  as  of  one 
approaching  ;  and  Sacripant,  furious  at  the  interruption, 
resumed  his  helmet,  mounted  his  horse,  and  placed  his 
lance  in  rest.  He  saw  a  knight  advancing,  with  scarf 
and  plume  of  snowy  whiteness.  Sacripant  regarded 
him  with  angry  eyes,  and,  while  he  was  yet  some  dis- 
tance off,  defied  him  to  the  combat.  The  other,  not 
moved  by  his  angry  tone  to  make  reply,  put  himself 
on  his  defence.  Their  horses,  struck  at  the  same 
moment  with  the  spur,  rushed  upon  one  another  with 
the  impetuosity  of  a  tempest.  Their  shields  were 
pierced  each  with  the  other's  lance,  and  only  the 
temper  of  their  breastplates  saved  their  lives.  Both  the 
horses  recoiled  with  the  violence  of  the  shock  ;  but 
the  unknown  knight's  recovered  itself  at  the  touch  of 
the  spur  ;  the  Saracen  king's  fell  dead,  and  bore  down 
his  master  with  him.  The  white  knight,  seeing  his 
enemy  in  this  condition,  cared  not  to  renew  the  com- 
bat, but,  thinking  he  had  done  enough  for  glory,  pur- 
sued his  way  through  the  forest,  and  was  a  mile  off 
before  Sacripant  had  got  free  from  his  horse. 

As  a  ploughman,  stunned  by  a  thunder-clap  which 
has  stricken  dead  the  oxen  at  his  plough,  stands  motion- 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE.  65 

less,  sadly  contemplating  his  loss,  so  Sacripant  stood 
confounded  and  overwhelmed  with  mortification  at 
having  Angelica  a  witness  of  his  defeat.  He  groaned, 
he  sighed,  less  from  the  pain  of  his  bruises  than  for 
the  shame  of  being  reduced  to  such  a  state  before  her. 
The  princess  took  pity  on  him,  and  consoled  him  as 
well  as  she  could.  "  Banish  your  regrets,  my  lord," 
she  said,  "this  accident  has  happened  solely  in  conse- 
quence of  the  feebleness  of  your  horse,  which  had 
more  need  of  rest  and  food  than  of  such  an  encounter 
as  this.  Nor  can  your  adversary  gain  any  credit  by 
it,  since  he  has  hurried  away,  not  venturing  a  second 
trial."  While  she  thus  consoled  Sacripant  they  per- 
ceived a  person  approach,  who  seemed  a  courier,  with 
bag  and  horn.  As  soon  as  he  came  up,  he  accosted 
Sacripant,  and  inquired  if  he  had  seen  a  knight  pass 
that  way,  bearing  a  white  shield  and  with  a  white 
plume  to  his  helmet.  "I  have,  indeed,  seen  too  much 
of  him,"  said  Sacripant,  "it  is  he  who  has  brought 
me  to  the  ground  ;  but  at  least  I  hope  to  learn  from 
you  who  that  knight  is."  "  That  I  can  easily  inform 
you,"  said  the  man  ;  "  know  then  that,  if  you  have 
been  overthrown,  you  owe  your  fate  to  the  high 
prowess  of  a  lady  as  beautiful  as  she  is  brave.  It  is  the 
fair  and  illustrious  Bradamante  who  has  won  from  you 
the  honors  of  victory." 

At  these  words  the  courier  rode  on  his  way,  leaving 
Sacripant  more  confounded  and  mortified  than  ever. 
In  silence  he  mounted  the  horse  of  Angelica,  taking 
the  lady  behind  him  on  the  croup,  and  rode  away  in 
search  of  a  more  secure  asylum.  Hardly  had  they 
ridden  two  miles  when  a  new  sound  was  heard  in  the 
forest,  and  they  perceived  a  gallant  and  powerful 
horse,  which,  leaping  the  ravines  and  dashing  aside  the 


66  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

branches  that  opposed  his  passage,  appeared  before 
them,  accoutred  with  a  rich  harness  adorned  with 
gold. 

"  If  I  may  believe  my  eyes,  which  penetrate  with 
difficulty  the  underwood,"  said  Angelica,  "that  horse 
that  dashes  so  stoutly  through  the  bushes  is  Bayard, 
and  I  marvel  how  he  seems  to  know  the  need  we  have 
of  him,  mounted  as  we  are  both  on  one  feeble  animal." 
Sacripant,  dismounting  from  the  palfrey,  approached 
the  fiery  courser,  and  attempted  to  seize  his  bridle,  but 
the  disdainful  animal,  turning  from  him,  launched  at 
him  a  volley  of  kicks  enough  to  have  shattered  a  wall 
of  marble.  Bayard  then  approached  Angelica  with  an 
air  as  gentle  and  loving  as  a  faithful  dog  could  his 
master  after  a  long  separation.  For  he  remembered 
how  she  had  caressed  him,  and  even  fed  him,  in  Al- 
bracca.  She  took  his  bridle  in  her  left  hand,  while 
with  her  right  she  patted  his  neck.  The  beautiful 
animal,  gifted  with  wonderful  intelligence,  seemed  to 
submit  entirely.  Sacripant,  seizing  the  moment  to 
vault  upon  him,  controlled  his  curvetings,  and  Angelica, 
quitting  the  croup  of  the  palfrey,  regained  her  seat. 

But,  turning  his  eyes  toward  a  place  where  was 
heard  a  noise  of  arms,  Sacripant  beheld  Rinaldo. 
That  hero  now  loves  Angelica  more  than  his  life,  and 
she  flies  him  as  the  timid  crane  the  falcon. 

The  fountain  of  which  Angelica  had  drunk  produced 
such  an  effect  on  the  beautiful  queen  that,  with  dis- 
tressed countenance  and  trembling  voice,  she  conjured 
Sacripant  not  to  wait  the  approach  of  Rinaldo,  but  to 
join  her  in  flight. 

"  Am  I,  then,"  said  Sacripant,  "  of  so  little  esteem 
with  you  that  you  doubt  my  power  to  defend  you  ? 
Do  you  forget  the  battle  of  Albracca,  and  how,  in 


THE   INVASION   OF   FRANCE.  67 

your  defence,  I  fought  single-handed  against  Agrican 
and  all  his  knights  ?  " 

Angelica  made  no  reply,  uncertain  what  to  do  ;  but 
already  Rinaldo  was  too  near  to  be  escaped.  He  ad- 
vanced menacingly  to  the  Circassian  king,  for  he  rec- 
ognized his  horse. 

"  Vile  thief,"  he  cried,  "  dismount  from  that  horse, 
and  prevent  the  punishment  that  is  your  due  for  daring 
to  rob  me  of  my  property.  Leave,  also,  the  princess 
in  my  hands  ;  for  it  would  indeed  be  a  sin  to  suffer  so 
charming  a  lady  and  so  gallant  a  charger  to  remain  in 
such  keeping." 

The  king  of  Circassia,  furious  at  being  thus  insulted, 
cried  out,  "  Thou  liest,  villain,  in  giving  me  the  name 
of  thief,  which  better  belongs  to  thyself  than  to  me. 
It  is  true,  the  beauty  of  this  lady  and  the  perfection 
of  this  horse  are  unequalled  ;  come  on,  then,  and  let 
us  try  which  of  us  is  most  worthy  to  possess  them." 

At  these  words  the  king  of  Circassia  and  Rinaldo 
attacked  one  another  with  all  their  force,  one  fighting 
on  foot,  the  other  on  horseback.  You  need  not,  how- 
ever, suppose  that  the  Saracen  king  found  any  advan- 
tage in  this  ;  for  a  young  page,  unused  to  horsemanship, 
could  not  have  failed  more  completely  to  manage  Bay- 
ard than  did  this  accomplished  knight.  The  faithful 
animal  loved  his  master  too  well  to  injure  him,  and 
refused  his  aid  as  well  as  his  obedience  to  the  hand  of 
Sacripant,  who  could  strike  but  ineffectual  blows,  the 
horse  backing  when  he  wished  him  to  go  forward,  and 
dropping  his  head  and  arching  his  back,  throwing  out 
with  his  legs,  so  as  almost  to  shake  the  knight  out  of 
the  saddle.  Sacripant,  seeing  that  he  could  not  man- 
age him,  watched  his  opportunity,  rose  on  his  saddle, 
end  leapt  lightly  to  the  earth  ;  then,  relieved  from  the 


68  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

embarrassment  of  the  horse,  renewed  the  combat  on 
more  equal  terms.  Their  skill  to  thrust  and  parry 
were  equal  ;  one  rises,  the  other  stoops  ;  with  one  foot 
set  firm  they  turn  and  wind,  to  lay  on  strokes  or  to 
dodge  them.  At  last  Rinaldo,  throwing  himself  on 
the  Circassian,  dealt  him  a  blow  so  terrible  that  Fus- 
berta,  his  good  sword,  cut  in  two  the  buckler  of  Sacri- 
pant,  although  it  was  made  of  bone,  and  covered  with 
a  thick  plate  of  steel  well  tempered.  The  arm  of  the 
Saracen  was  deprived  of  its  defence,  and  almost  palsied 
with  the  stroke.  Angelica,  perceiving  how  victory 
was  likely  to  incline,  and  shuddering  at  the  thought  of 
becoming  the  prize  of  Rinaldo,  hesitated  no  longer. 
Turning  her  horse's  head,  she  fled  with  the  utmost 
speed  ;  and,  in  spite  of  the  round  pebbles  which  cov- 
ered a  steep  descent,  she  plunged  into  a  deep  valley, 
trembling  with  the  fear  that  Rinaldo  was  in  pursuit. 
At  the  bottom  of  this  valley  she  encountered  an  aged 
hermit,  whose  white  beard  flowed  to  his  middle,  and 
whose  venerable  appearance  seemed  to  assure  his 
piety. 

This  hermit,  who  appeared  shrunk  by  age  and  fast- 
ing, travelled  slowly,  mounted  upon  a  wretched  ass. 
The  princess,  overcome  with  fear,  conjured  him  to 
save  her  life;  and  to  conduct  her  to  some  port  of  the 
sea,  whence  she  might  embark  and  quit  France,  never 
more  to  hear  the  odious  name  of  Rinaldo. 

The  old  hermit  was  something  of  a  wizard.  He 
comforted  Angelica,  and  promised  to  protect  her  from 
all  peril.  Then  he  opened  his  scrip,  and  took  from 
thence  a  book,  and  had  read  but  a  single  page  when  a 
goblin,  obedient  to  his  incantations,  appeared,  under 
the  form  of  a  laboring  man,  and  demanded  his  orders. 
He  received  them,  transported  himself  to  the  place 


THE    INVASION    OF    FRANCE.  69 

where  the  knights  still  maintained  their  conflict,  and 
boldly  stepped  between  the  two. 

"Tell  me,  I  pray  you,"  he  said,  "what  benefit 
will  accrue  to  him  who  shall  get  the  better  in  this  con- 
test ?  The  object  you  are  contending  for  is  already 
disposed  of;  for  the  Paladin  Orlando,  without  effort 
and  without  opposition,  is  now  carrying  away  the 
princess  Angelica  to  Paris.  You  had  better  pursue 
them  promptly,  for  if  they  reach  Paris  you  will  never 
see  her  again." 

At  these  words  you  might  have  seen  those  rival 
warriors  confounded,  stupefied,  silently  agreeing  that 
they  were  affording  their  rival  a  fair  opportunity  to 
triumph  over  them.  Rinaldo,  approaching  Bayard, 
breathes  a  sigh  of  shame  and  rage,  and  swears  a 
terrible  oath  that,  if  he  overtakes  Orlando,  he  will 
tear  his  heart  out.  Then  mounting  Bayard  and  press- 
ing his  flanks  with  his  spurs,  he  leaves  the  king  of 
Circassia  on  foot  in  the  forest. 

Let  it  not  appear  strange  that  Rinaldo  found  Bay- 
ard obedient  at  last,  after  having  so  long  prevented 
any  one  from  even  touching  his  bridle  ;  for  that 
fine  animal  had  an  intelligence  almost  human  ;  he 
had  fled  from  his  master  only  to  draw  him  on  the 
track  of  Angelica,  and  enable  him  to  recover  her. 
He  saw  when  the  princess  fled  from  the  battle,  and 
Rinaldo  being  then  engaged  in  a  fight  on  foot,  Bayard 
found  himself  free  to  follow  the  traces  of  Angelica. 
Thus  he  had  drawn  his  master  after  him,  not  per- 
mitting him  to  approach,  and  had  brought  him  to  the 
sight  of  the  princess.  But  Bayard  now,  deceived  like 
his  master  with  the  false  intelligence  of  the  goblin, 
submits  to  be  mounted  and  to  serve  his  master  as 
usual,  and  Rinaldo,  animated  with  rage,  makes  him 


70          LEGENDS  OF  CHARLEMAGNE. 

fly  toward  Paris,  more  slowly  than  his  wishes,  though 
the  speed  of  Bayard  outstripped  the  winds.  Full  of 
impatience  to  encounter  Orlando,  he  gave  but  a  few 
hours  that  night  to  sleep.  Early  the  next  day  he  saw 
before  him  the  great  city,  under  the  walls  of  which 
the  Emperor  Charles  had  collected  the  scattered  re- 
mains of  his  army.  Foreseeing  that  he  would  soon 
be  attacked  on  all  sides,  the  Emperor  had  caused  the 
ancient  fortifications  to  be  repaired,  and  new  ones  to 
be  built,  surrounded  by  wide  and  deep  ditches.  The 
desire  to  hold  the  field  against  the  enemy  made  him 
seize  every  means  of  procuring  new  allies.  He  hoped 
to  receive  from  England  aid  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  form  a 'new  camp,  and  as  soon  as  Rinaldo  rejoined 
him  he  selected  him  to  go  as  his  ambassador  into 
England,  to  plead  for  auxiliaries.  Rinaldo  was  far 
from  pleased  with  his  commission,  but  he  obeyed  the 
Emperor's  commands,  without  giving  himself  time  to 
devote  a  single  day  to  the  object  nearest  his  heart. 
He  hastened  to  Calais,  and  lost  not  a  moment  in 
embarking  for  England,  ardently  desiring  a  hasty  de- 
spatch of  his  commission,  and  a  speedy  return  to 
France. 


BRADAMANTE    AND    ROGERO. 

BRADAMANTE,  the  knight  of  the  white  plume  and 
shield,  whose  sudden  appearance  and  encounter  with 
Sacripant  we  have  already  told,  was  in  quest  of  Rogero, 
from  whom  chance  had  separated  her,  almost  at  the 
beginning  of  their  acquaintance.  After  her  encounter 
with  Sacripant  Bradamante  pursued  her  way  through 


BRADAMANTE   AND    ROGERO.  71 

the  forest,  in  hopes  of  rejoining  Rogero,  and  arrived  at 
last  on  the  brink  of  a  fair  fountain. 

This  fountain  flowed  through  a  broad  meadow. 
Ancient  trees  overshadowed  it,  and  travellers,  attracted 
by  the  sweet  murmur  of  its  waters,  stopped  there  to 
cool  themselves.  Bradamante,  casting  her  eyes  on  all 
sides  to  enjoy  the  beauties  of  the  spot,  perceived,  under 
the  shade  of  a  tree,  a  knight  reclining,  who  seemed  to 
be  oppressed  with  the  deepest  grief. 

Bradamante  accosted  him,  and  asked  to  be  informed 
of  the  cause  of  his  distress.  "Alas  !  my  lord,"  said 
he,  "  I  lament  a  young  and  charming  friend,  my  affi- 
anced wife,  who  has  been  torn  from  me  by  a  villain, 
—  let  me  rather  call  him  a  demon,  —  who,  on  a 
winged  horse,  descended  from  the  air,  seized  her,  and 
bore  her  screaming  to  his  den.  I  have  pursued  them 
over  rocks  and  through  ravines  till  my  horse  is  no  longer 
able  to  bear  me,  and  I  now  wait  only  for  death." 
He  added  that  already  a  vain  attempt  on  his  behalf 
had  been  made  by  two  knights,  whom  chance  had 
brought  to  the  spot.  Their  names  were  Gradasso, 
king  of  Sericane,  and  Rogero,  the  Moor.  Both  had 
been  overcome  by  the  wiles  of  the  enchanter,  and 
were  added  to  the  number  of  the  captives,  whom  he 
held  in  an  impregnable  castle,  situated  on  the  height  of 
the  mountain.  At  the  mention  of  Rogero' s  name 
Bradamante  started  with  delight,  which  was  soon 
changed  to  an  opposite  sentiment  when  she  heard  that 
her  lover  was  a  prisoner  in  the  toils  of  the  enchanter. 
"Sir  Knight,"  she  said,  "  do  not  surrender  yourself 
to  despair  ;  this  day  may  be  more  happy  for  you  than 
you  think,  if  you  will  only  lead  m^  to  the  castle  which 
enfolds  her  whom  you  deplore." 

The  knight  responded,   "After  having  lost  all  that 


72  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

made  life  dear  to  me  I  have  no  motive  to  avoid  the 
dangers  of  the  enterprise,  and  1  will  do  as  you  request  ; 
but  I  forewarn  you  of  the  perils  you  will  have  to  en- 
counter. If  you  fall  impute  it  not  to  me." 

Having  thus  spoken,  they  took  their  way  to  the 
castle,  but  were  overtaken  by  a  messenger  from  the 
camp,  who  had  been  sent  in  quest  of  Bradamante  to 
summon  her  back  to  the  army,  where  her  presence  was 
needed  to  reassure  her  disheartened  forces,  and  with- 
stand the  advance  of  the  Moors. 

The  mournful  knight,  whose  name  was  Pinabel,  thus 
became  aware  that  Bradamante  was  a  scion  of  the  house 
of  Clermont,  between  which  and  his  own  of  Mayence 
there  existed  an  ancient  feud.  From  this  moment  the 
traitor  sought  only  how  he  might  be  rid  of  the  com- 
pany of  Bradamante,  from  whom  he  feared  no  good 
would  come  to  him,  but  rather  mortal  injury,  if  his 
name  and  lineage  became  known  to  her.  For  he 
judged  her  by  his  own  base  model,  and,  knowing  his 
ill  deserts,  he  feared  to  receive  his  due. 

Bradamante,  in  spite  of  the  summons  to  return  to 
the  army,  could  not  resolve  to  leave  her  lover  in  cap- 
tivity, and  determined  first  to  finish  the  adventure  on 
which  she  was  engaged.  Pinabel  leading  the  way, 
they  at  length  arrived  at  a  wood,  in  the  centre  of  which 
rose  a  steep,  rocky  mountain.  Pinabel,  who  now 
thought  of  nothing  else  but  how  he  might  escape  from 
Bradamante,  proposed  to  ascend  the  mountain  to  ex- 
tend his  view,  in  order  to  discover  a  shelter  for  the 
night,  if  any  there  might  be  within  sight.  Under  this 
pretence  he  left  Bradamante,  and  advanced  up  the  side 
of  the  mountain  till  he  came  to  a  cleft  in  the  rock, 
down  which  he  looked,  and  perceived  that  it  widened 
below  into  a  spacious  cavern.  Meanwhile  Brada- 


BRADAMANTE   AND    ROGERO.  73 

mantc,  fearful  of  losing  her  guide,  had  followed  close 
on  his  footsteps,  and  rejoined  him  at  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern.  Then  the  traitor,  seeing  the  impossibility  of 
escaping  her,  conceived  another  design.  He  told  her 
that  before  her  approach  he  had  seen  in  the  cavern  a 
young  and  beautiful  damsel,  whose  rich  dress  an- 
nounced her  high  birth,  who  with  tears  and  lamenta- 
tions implored  assistance  ;  that  before  he  could  descend 
to  relieve  her  a  ruffian  had  seized  her,  and  hurried  her 
away  into  the  recesses  of  the  cavern. 

Bradamante,  full  of  truth  and  courage,  readily  believed 
this  lie  of  the  Mayencian  traitor.  Eager  to  succor  the 
damsel,  she  looked  round  for  the  means  of  facilitating 
the  descent,  and  seeing  a  large  elm  with  spreading 
branches  she  lopped  off  with  her  sword  one  of  the 
largest,  and  thrust  it  into  the  opening.  She  told  Pina- 
bel  to  hold  fast  to  the  larger  end,  while,  grasping  the 
branches  with  her  hands,  she  let  herself  down  into  the 
cavern. 

The  traitor  smiled  at  seeing  her  thus  suspended,  and, 
asking  her  in  mockery,  "  Are  you  a  good  leaper  ?  "  he 
let  go  the  branch  with  perfidious  glee,  and  saw  Brada- 
mante precipitated  to  the  bottom  of  the  cave.  "  I 
wish  your  whole  race  were  there  with  you,"  he  mut- 
tered, "that  you  might  al)  perish  together." 

ButPinabel's  atrocious  design  was  not  accomplished. 
The  twigs  and  foliage  of  the  branch  broke  its  descent, 
and  Bradamante,  not  seriously  injured,  though  stunned 
with  her  fall,  was  reserved  for  other  adventures. 

As  soon  as  she  recovered  from  the  shock  Brada- 
mante cast  her  eyes  around  and  perceived  a  door, 
through  which  she  passed  into  a  second  cavern,  larger 
and  loftier  than  the  first.  It  had  the  appearance  of  a 
subterranean  temple,  Columns  of  the  purest  alabaster 


74          LEGENDS   OF  CHARLEMAGNE. 

adorned  it,  and  supported  the  roof;  a  simple  altar  rose 
in  the  middle  ;  a  lamp,  whose  radiance  was  reflected 
by  the  alabaster  walls,  cast  a  mild  light  around. 

Bradamante,  inspired  by  a  sense  of  religious  awe, 
approached  the  altar,  and,  falling  on  her  knees,  poured 
forth  her  prayers  and  thanks  to  the  Preserver  of  her 
life,  invoking  the  protection  of  his  power.  At  that  mo- 
ment a  small  door  opened,  and  a  female  issued  from  it 
with  naked  feet,  and  flowing  robe  and  hair,  who  called 
her  by  her  name,  and  thus  addressed  her  :  "  Brave 
and  generous  Bradamante,  know  that  it  is  a  power  from 
above  that  has  brought  you  hither.  The  spirit  of  Mer- 
lin, whose  last  earthly  abode  was  in  this  place,  has 
warned  me  of  your  arrival,  and  of  the  fate  that  awaits 
you.  This  famous  grotto,"  she  continued,  "was  the 
work  of  the  enchanter  Merlin  ;  here  his  ashes  repose. 
You  have  no  doubt  heard  how  this  sage  and  virtuous 
enchanter  ceased  to  be.  Victim  of  the  artful  fairy  of 
the  lake,  Merlin,  by  a  fatal  compliance  with  her  re- 
quest, laid  himself  down  living  in  his  tomb,  without 
power  to  resist  the  spell  laid  upon  him  by  that  ingrate, 
who  retained  him  there  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  spirit 
hovers  about  this  spot,  and  will  not  leave  it,  until  the 
last  trumpet  shall  summon  the  dead  to  judgment.  He 
answers  the  questions  of  those  who  approach  his  tomb, 
where  perhaps  you  may  be  privileged  to  hear  his 
voice. ' ' 

Bradamante,  astonished  at  these  words,  and  the  ob- 
jects which  met  her  view,  knew  not  whether  she  was 
awake  or  asleep.  Confused,  but  modest,  she  cast 
down  her  eyes,  and  a  blush  overspread  her  face. 
"  Ah,  what  am  I,"  said  she,  "  that  so  great  a  prophet 
should  deign  to  speak  to  me  !  "  Still,  with  a  secret 
satisfaction,  she  followed  the  priestess,  who  led  her  to 


BRADAMANTE   AND   ROGERO.  75 

the  tomb  of  Merlin.  This  tomb  was  constructed  of 
a  species  of  stone  hard  and  resplendent  like  fire.  The 
rays  which  beamed  from  the  stone  sufficed  to  light  up 
that  terrible  place,  where  the  sun's  rays  never  pene- 
trated ;  but  I  know  not  whether  that  light  was  the 
effect  of  a  certain  phosphorescence  of  the  stone  itself, 
or  of  the  many  talismans  and  charms  with  which  it 
was  wrought  over. 

Bradamante  had  hardly  passed  the  threshold  of  this 
sacred  place  when  the  spirit  of  the  enchanter  saluted 
her  with  a  voice  firm  and  distinct  :  —  "  May  thy  de- 
signs be  prosperous,  O  chaste  and  noble  maiden,  the 
future  mother  of  heroes,  the  glory  of  Italy,  and  des- 
tined to  fill  the  whole  world  with  their  fame.  Great 
captains,  renowned  knights,  shall  be  numbered  among 
your  descendants,  who  shall  defend  the  Church  and 
restore  their  country  to  its  ancient  splendor.  Princes, 
wise  as  Augustus  and  the  sage  Numa,  shall  bring  back 
the  age  of  gold.1  To  accomplish  these  grand  destinies 
it  is  ordained  that  you  shall  wed  the  illustrious  Rogero. 
Fly  then  to  his  deliverance,  and  lay  prostrate  in  the 
dust  the  traitor  who  has  snatched  him  from  you,  and 
now  holds  him  in  chains  !  " 

Merlin  ceased  with  these  words,  and  left  to  Melissa, 
the  priestess,  the  charge  of  more  fully  instructing  tht 
maiden  in  her  future  course.  "  To-morrow,"  said  she. 
"  I  will  conduct  you  to  the  castle  on  the  rock  where 
Rogero  is  held  captive.  I  will  not  leave  you  till  J 
have  guided  you  through  this  wild  wood,  and  I  wil) 
direct  you  on  your  way  so  that  you  shall  be  in  no 
danger  of  mistaking  it." 

1  This  prophecy  is  introduced  by  Ariosto  in  this  place  to  compli- 
ment the  noble  house  of  Este,  the  princes  of  his  native  state,  the 
dukedom  of  Ferrara, 


76  LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

The  next  morning  Melissa  conducted  Bradamante 
between  rocks  and  precipices,  crossing  rapid  torrents, 
and  traversing  intricate  passes,  employing  the  time  in 
imparting  to  her  such  information  as  was  necessary  to 
enable  her  to  bring  her  design  to  a  successful  issue. 

"  Not  only  would  the  castle,  impenetrable  by  force, 
and  that  winged  horse  of  his  baffle  your  efforts,  but 
know  that  he  possesses  also  a  buckler  whence  flashes  a 
light  so  brilliant  that  the  eyes  of  all  who  look  upon  it 
are  blinded.  Think  not  to  avoid  it  by  shutting  your 
eyes,  for  how  then  will  you  be  able  to  avoid  his  blows, 
and  make  him  feel  your  own  ?  But  I  will  teach  you 
the  proper  course  to  pursue. 

"  Agramant,  the  Moorish  prince,  possesses  a  ring 
stolen  from  a  queen  of  India,  which  has  power  to  ren- 
der of  no  avail  all  enchantments.  Agramant,  knowing 
that  Rogero  is  of  more  importance  to  him  than  any  one 
of  his  warriors,  is  desirous  of  rescuing  him  from  the 
power  of  the  enchanter,  and  has  sent  for  that  purpose 
Brunello,  the  most  crafty  and  sagacious  of  his  servants, 
provided  with  his  wonderful  ring,  and  he  is  even  now 
at  hand,  bent  on  this  enterprise.  But,  beautiful  Brada- 
mante, as  I  desire  that  no  one  but  yourself  shall  have 
the  glory  of  delivering  from  thraldom  your  future 
spouse,  listen  while  I  disclose  the  means  of  success. 
Following  this  path  which  leads  by  the  seashore,  you 
will  come  ere  long  to  a  hostelry,  where  the  Saracen 
Brunello  will  arrive  shortly  after  you.  You  will  readily 
know  him  by  his  stature,  under  four  feet,  his  great  dis- 
proportioned  head,  his  squint  eyes,  his  livid  hue,  his 
thick  eyebrows  joining  his  tufted  beard.  His  dress, 
moreover,  that  of  a  courier,  will  point  him  out  to  you. 

"  It  will  be  easy  for  you  to  enter  into  conversation 
with  him,  announcing  yourself  as  a  knight  seeking  com- 


BRADAMANTE   AND    ROGERO.  77 

bat  with  the  enchanter,  but  let  not  the  knave  suspect 
that  you  know  anything  about  the  ring.  I  doubt  not 
that  he  will  be  your  guide  to  the  castle  of  the  en- 
chanter. Accept  his  offer,  but  take  care  to  keep  be- 
hind him  till  you  come  in  sight  of  the  brilliant  dome  of 
the  castle.  Then  hesitate  not  to  strike  him  dead,  for 
the  wretch  deserves  no  pity,  and  take  from  him  the 
ring.  But  let  him  not  suspect  your  intention,  for  by 
putting  the  ring  into  his  mouth  he  will  instantly  become 
invisible,  and  disappear  from  your  eyes." 

Saying  thus,  the  sage  Melissa  and  the  fair  Brada- 
mante  arrived  near  the  city  of  Bordeaux,  where  the 
rich  and  wide  river  Garonne  pours  the  tribute  of  its 
waves  into  the  sea.  They  parted  with  tender  em- 
braces. Bradamante,  intent  wholly  on  her  purpose, 
hastened  to  arrive  at  the  hostelry,  where  Brunello 
had  preceded  her  a  few  moments  only.  The  young 
heroine  knew  him  without  difficulty.  She  accosted 
him,  and  put  to  him  some  slight  questions,  to  which 
he  replied  with  adroit  falsehoods.  Bradamante,  on 
her  part,  concealed  from  him  her  sex,  her  religion, 
her  country,  and  the  blood  from  whence  she  sprung. 
While  they  talk  together,  sudden  cries  are  heard  from 
all  parts  of  the  hostelry.  "  O  queen  of  heaven  !  " 
exclaimed  Bradamante,  "  what  can  he  the  cause  of 
this  sudden  alarm  ?"  She  soon  learned  the  cause. 
Host,  children,  domestics,  all,  with  upturned  eyes,  as 
if  they  saw  a  comet  or  a  great  eclipse,  were  gazing  on 
a  prodigy  which  seemed  to  pass  the  bounds  of  possi- 
bility. She  beheld  distinctly  a  winged  horse,  mounted 
with  a  cavalier  in  rich  armor,  cleaving  the  air  with  rapid 
flight.  The  wings  of  this  strange  courser  were  wide 
extended,  and  covered  with  feathers  of  various  colors. 
The  polished  armor  of  the  knight  made  them  shine 


78  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

with  rainbow  tints.  In  a  short  time  the  horse  and 
rider  disappeared  behind  the  summits  of  the  mountains. 

"  It  is  an  enchanter,"  said  the  host,  "  a  magician 
who  often  is  seen  traversing  the  air  in  that  way. 
Sometimes  he  flies  aloft  as  if  among  the  stars,  and  at 
others  skims  along  the  land.  He  possesses  a  won- 
derful castle  on  the  top  of  the  Pyrenees.  Many 
knights  have  shown  their  courage  by  going  to  attack 
him,  but  none  have  ever  returned,  from  which  it  is 
to  be  feared  they  have  lost  either  their  life  or  their 
liberty." 

Bradamante,  addressing  the  host,  said,  «'  Could  you 
furnish  me  a  guide  to  conduct  me  to  the  castle  of  this 
enchanter  ?  "  "  By  my  faith,"  said  Brunello,  inter- 
rupting, "  that  you  shall  not  seek  in  vain  ;  I  have  it 
all  in  writing,  and  I  will  myself  conduct  you." 
Bradamante,  with  tha.iks,  accepted  him  for  her  guide. 

The  host  had  a  tolerable  horse  to  dispose  of,  which 
Bradamante  bargained  for,  and  the  next  day,  at  the 
first  dawn  of  morning,  she  took  her  route  by  a  narrow 
valley,  taking  care  to  have  the  Saracen  Brunello  lead 
the  way. 

They  reached  the  summit  of  the  Pyrenees,  whence 
one  may  look  down  on  France,  Spain,  and  the  two 
seas.  From  this  height  they  descended  again  by  a 
fatiguing  road  into  a  deep  valley.  From  the  middle 
of  this  valley  an  isolated  mountain  rose,  composed  of 
rough  and  perpendicular  rock,  on  whose  summit  was 
the  castle,  surrounded  with  a  wall  of  brass.  Brunello 
said,  ««  Yonder  is  the  stronghold  where  the  enchanter 
keeps  his  prisoners  ;  one  must  have  wings  to  mount 
thither  ;  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  aid  of  a  flying  horse 
must  be  necessary  for  the  master  of  this  castle,  which 
he  uses  for  his  prison  and  for  his  abode." 


BRADAMANTE    AND    ROGERO.  79 

Bradamante,  sufficiently  instructed,  saw  that  the 
time  had  now  come  to  possess  herself  of  the  ring  ;  but 
she  could  not  resolve  to  slay  a  defenceless  man.  She 
seized  Brunello  before  he  was  aware,  bound  him  to  a 
tree,  and  took  from  him  the  ring  which  he  wore  on 
one  of  his  fingers.  The  cries  and  entreaties  of  the 
perfidious  Saracen  moved  her  not.  She  advanced  to 
the  foot  of  the  rock  whereon  the  castle  stood,  and,  to 
draw  the  magician  to  the  combat,  sounded  her  horn, 
adding  to  it  cries  of  defiance. 

The  enchanter  delayed  not  to  present  himself, 
mounted  on  his  winged  horse.  Bradamante  was 
struck  with  surprise  mixed  with  joy  when  she  saw 
that  this  person,  described  as  so  formidable,  bore  no 
lance  nor  club,  nor  any  other  deadly  weapon.  He  had 
only  on  his  arm  a  buckler,  covered  with  a  cloth,  and 
in  his  hand  an  open  book.  As  to  the  winged  horse, 
there  was  no  enchantment  about  him.  He  was  a 
natural  animal,  of  a  species  which  exists  in  the  Ri- 
phasan  mountains.  Like  a  griffin,  he  had  the  head  of 
an  eagle,  claws  armed  with  talons,  and  wings  covered 
with  feathers,  the  rest  of  his  body  being  that  of  a 
horse.  This  strange  animal  is  called  a  HippogrifF. 

The  heroine  attacked  the  enchanter  on  his  approach, 
striking  on  this  side  and  on  that,  with  all  the  energy 
of  a  violent  combat,  but  wounding  only  the  wind  ; 
and  after  this  pretended  attack  had  lasted  some  time 
dismounted  from  her  horse,  as  if  hoping  to  do  battle 
more  effectually  on  foot.  The  enchanter  now  prepares 
to  employ  his  sole  weapon,  by  uncovering  the  magic 
buckler  which  never  failed  to  subdue  an  enemy  by 
depriving  him  of  his  senses.  Bradamante,  confiding 
in  her  ring,  observed  all  the  motions  of  her  adversary, 
and,  at  the  unveiling  of  the  shield,  cast  herself  on 


8o  LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

the  ground,  pretending  that  the  splendor  of  the  shield 
had  overcome  her,  but  in  reality  to  induce  the  en- 
chanter to  dismount  and  approach  her. 

It  happened  according  to  her  wish.  When  the 
enchanter  saw  her  prostrate  he  made  his  horse  alight 
on  the  ground,  and,  dismounting,  fixed  the  shield  on 
the  pommel  of  his  saddle,  and  approached  in  order  to 
secure  the  fallen  warrior.  Bradamante,  who  watched 
him  intently,  as  soon  as  she  saw  him  near  at  hand, 
sprang  up,  seized  him  vigorously,  threw  him  down, 
and,  with  the  same  chain  which  the  enchanter  had 
prepared  for  herself,  bound  him  fast,  without  his  being 
able  to  make  any  effectual  resistance. 

The  enchanter,  with  the  accents  of  despair,  ex- 
claimed, "Take  my  life,  young  man  !  "  but  Brada- 
mante was  far  from  complying  with  such  a  wish. 
Desirous  of  knowing  the  name  of  the  enchanter,  and 
for  what  purpose  he  had  formed  with  so  much  art  this 
impregnable  fortress,  she  commanded  him  to  inform 
her. 

"  Alas  !  "  replied  the  magician,  while  tears  flowed 
down  his  cheeks,  "  it  is  not  to  conceal  booty,  nor  for 
any  culpable  design  that  I  have  built  this  castle  ;  it 
was  only  to  guard  the  life  of  a  young  knight,  the  object 
of  my  tenderest  affection,  my  art  having  taught  me 
that  he  is  destined  to  become  a  Christian,  and  to  perish, 
shortly  after,  by  the  blackest  of  treasons. 

"This  youth,  named  Rogero,  is  the  most  beautiful 
and  most  accomplished  of  knights.  It  is  I,  the  un- 
happy Atlantes,  who  have  reared  him  from  his  child- 
hood. The  call  of  honor  and  the  desire  of  glory  led 
him  from  me  to  follow  Agramant,  his  prince,  in  his 
invasion  of  France,  and  I,  more  devoted  to  Rogero 
than  the  tenderest  of  parents,  have  sought  the  means  of 


BRADAMANTE   AND   ROGERO.  8 1 

bringing  him  back  to  this  abode,  in  the  hope  of  saving 
him  from  the  cruel  fate  that  menaces  him. 

"  For  this  purpose  I  have  got  him  in  my  possession 
by  tne  same  means  as  I  attempted  to  employ  against 
you  ;  and  by  which  I  have  succeeded  in  collecting  a 
great  many  knights  and  ladies  in  my  castle.  My  pur- 
pose was  to  render  my  beloved  pupil's  captivity  light, 
by  affording  him  society  to  amuse  him,  and  keep  his 
thoughts  from  running  on  subjects  of  war  and  glory. 
Alas  !  my  cares  have  been  in  vain  !  Yet,  take,  I  be- 
seech you,  whatever  else  I  have,  but  spare  me  my 
beloved  pupil.  Take  this  shield,  take  this  winged 
courser,  deliver  such  of  your  friends  as  you  may  find 
among  my  prisoners,  deliver  them  all  if  you  will,  but 
leave  me  my  beloved  Rogero  ;  or  if  you  will  snatch 
him  too  from  me,  take  also  my  life,  which  will  cease 
then  to  be  to  me  worth  preserving." 

Bradamante  replied  :  "  Old  man,  hope  not  to  move 
me  by  your  vain  entreaties.  It  is  precisely  the  liberty 
of  Rogero  that  I  require.  You  would  keep  him  here 
in  bondage  and  in  slothful  pleasure,  to  save  him  from 
a  fate  which  you  foresee.  Vain  old  man  !  how  can 
you  foresee  his  fate  when  you  could  not  foresee  your 
own  ?  You  desire  me  to  take  your  life.  No,  my  arm 
and  my  soul  refuse  the  request."  This  said,  she  re- 
quired the  magician  to  go  before,  and  guide  her  to  the 
castle.  The  prisoners  were  set  at  liberty,  though  some, 
in  their  secret  hearts,  regretted  the  voluptuous  life  which 
was  thus  brought  to  an  end.  Bradamante  and  Rogero 
met  one  another  with  transports  of  joy. 

They  descended  from  the  mountain  to  the  spot 
where  the  encounter  had  taken  place.  There  they 
found  the  Hippogriff,  with  the  magic  buckler  in  its 
wrapper,  hanging  to  his  saddle-bow.  Bradamante  ad- 


82  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

vanced  to  seize  the  bridle  ;  the  Hippogriff  seemed  to 
wait  her  approach,  but  before  she  reached  him  he 
spread  his  wings  and  flew  away  to  a  neighboring  hill, 
and  in  the  same  manner,  a  second  time,  eluded  her 
efforts.  Rogero  and  the  other  liberated  knights  dis- 
persed over  the  plain  and  hill-tops  to  secure  him,  and 
at  last  the  animal  allowed  Rogero  to  seize  his  rein. 
The  fearless  Rogero  hesitated  not  to  vault  upon  his 
back,  and  let  him  feel  his  spurs,  which  so  roused  his 
mettle  that,  after  galloping  a  short  distance,  he  sud- 
denly spread  his  wings,  and  soared  into  the  air.  Brada- 
mante  had  the  grief  to  see  her  lover  snatched  away 
from  her  at  the  very  moment  of  reunion.  Rogero, 
who  knew  not  the  art  of  directing  the  horse,  was  un- 
able to  control  his  flight.  He  found  himself  carried 
over  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  so  far  above  them  that 
he  could  hardly  distinguish  what  was  land  and  what 
water.  The  Hippogriff  directed  his  flight  to  the  west, 
and  cleaved  the  air  as  swiftly  as  a  new-rigged  vessel 
cuts  the  waves,  impelled  by  the  freshest  and  most 
favorable  gales. 


ASTOLPHO  AND  THE  ENCHANTRESS. 

IN  the  long  flight  which  Rogero  took  on  the  back 
of  the  Hippogriff  he  was  carried  over  land  and  sea, 
unknowing  whither.  As  soon  as  he  had  gained  some 
control  over  the  animal  he  made  him  alight  on  the 
nearest  land.  When  he  came  near  enough  to  earth 
Rogero  leapt  lightly  from  his  back,  and  tied  the  animal 
to  a  myrtle-tree.  Near  the  spot  flowed  the  pure 
waters  of  a  fountain,  surrounded  by  cedars  and  palm- 
trees.  Rogero  laid  aside  his  shield,  and,  removing 


ASTOLPHO    AND    THE    ENCHANTRESS.      83 

his  helmet,  breathed  with  delight  the  fresh  air,  and 
cooled  his  lips  with  the  waters  of  the  fountain.  For 
we  cannot  wonder  that  he  was  excessively  fatigued, 
considering  the  ride  he  had  taken.  He  was  preparing 
to  taste  the  sweets  of  repose  when  he  perceived  that 
the  HippogrifF,  which  he  had  tied  by  the  bridle  to  a 
myrtle-tree,  frightened  at  something,  was  making  violent 
efforts  to  disengage  himself.  His  struggle  shook  the 
myrtle-tree  so  that  many  of  its  beautiful  leaves  were 
torn  off,  and  strewed  the  ground. 

A  sound  like  that  which  issues  from  burning  wood 
seemed  to  come  from  the  myrtle-tree,  at  first  faint 
and  indistinct,  but  growing  stronger  by  degrees,  and 
at  length  was  audible  as  a  voice  which  spoke  in  this 
manner  :  "  O  knight,  if  the  tenderness  of  your  heart 
corresponds  to  the  beauty  of  your  person,  relieve  me, 
I  pray  you,  from  this  tormenting  animal.  I  suffer 
enough  inwardly  without  having  outward  evils  added 
to  my  lot." 

Rogero,  at  the  first  accents  of  this  voice,  turned 
his  eyes  promptly  on  the  myrtle,  hastened  to  it,  and 
stood  fixed  in  astonishment  when  he  perceived  that  the 
voice  issued  from  the  tree  itself.  He  immediately 
untied  his  horse,  and,  flushed  with  surprise  and  re- 
gret, exclaimed,  "  Whoever  thou  art,  whether  mortal 
or  the  goddess  of  these  woods,  forgive  me,  I  beseech 
you,  my  involuntary  fault.  Had  I  imagined  that  this 
hard  bark  covered  a  being  possessed  of  feeling,  could  I 
have  exposed  such  a  beautiful  myrtle  to  the  insults  of 
this  steed  ?  May  the  sweet  influences  of  the  sky  and 
air  speedily  repair  the  injury  I  have  done  !  For  my 
part,  I  promise  by  the  sovereign  lady  of  my  heart  to 
do  everything  you  wish  in  order  to  merit  your  for- 
giveness." 


84  LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

At  these  words  the  myrtle  seemed  to  tremble  from 
root  to  stem,  and  Rogero  remarked  that  a  moisture  as 
of  tears  trickled  down  its  bark,  like  that  which  exudes 
from  a  log  placed  on  the  fire.  It  then  spoke: 

"  The  kindness  which  inspires  your  words  compels 
me  to  disclose  to  you  who  I  once  was,  and  by  what 
fatality  1  have  been  .changed  into  this  shape.  My 
name  was  Astolpho,  cousin  of  Orlando  and  Rinaldo, 
whose  fame  has  filled  the  earth.  I  was  myself  reck- 
oned among  the  bravest  paladins  of  France,  and  was 
by  birth  entitled  to  reign  over  England,  after  Otho, 
my  father.  Returning  from  the  distant  East,  with 
Rinaldo  and  many  other  brave  knights,  called  home  to 
aid  with  our  arms  the  great  Emperor  of  France,  we 
reached  a  spot  where  the  powerful  enchantress  Alcina 
possessed  a  castle  on  the  borders  of  the  sea.  She  had 
gone  to  the  water-side  to  amuse  herself  with  fishing, 
and  we  paused  to  see  how,  by  her  art,  without  hook 
or  line,  she  drew  from  the  water  whatever  she  would. 

"  Not  far  from  the  shore  an  enormous  whale  showed 
a  back  so  broad  and  motionless  that  it  looked  like  an 
island.  Alcina  had  fixed  her  eyes  on  me,  and  planned 
to  get  me  into  her  power.  Addressing  us,  she  said: 
'  This  is  the  hour  when  the  prettiest  mermaid  in  the 
sea  comes  regularly  every  day  to  the  shore  of  yonder 
island.  She  sings  so  sweetly  that  the  very  waves 
flow  smoother  at  the  sound.  If  you  wish  to  hear  her 
come  with  me  to  her  resort. '  So  saying,  Alcina  pointed 
to  the  fish,  which  we  all  supposed  to  be  an  island.  I, 
who  was  rash,  did  not  hesitate  to  follow  her  ;  but 
swam  my  horse  over,  and  mounted  on  the  back  of  the 
fish.  In  vain  Rinaldo  and  Dudon  made  signs  to  me 
to  beware  ;  Alcina,  smiling,  took  me  in  charge,  and 
led  the  way.  No  sooner  were  we  mounted  upon  him 


ASTOLPHO    AND   THE    ENCHANTRESS.      85 

than  the  whale  moved  off,  spreading  his  great  fins, 
and  cleft  rapidly  the  waters.  I  then  saw  my  folly, 
but  it  was  too  late  to  repent.  Alcina  soothed  my 
anger,  and  professed  that  what  she  had  done  was  for 
love  of  me.  Ere  long  we  arrived  at  this  island, 
where  at  first  everything  was  done  to  reconcile  me  to 
my  lot,  and  to  make  my  days  pass  happily  away. 
But  soon  Alcina,  sated  with  her  conquest,  grew  indif- 
ferent, then  weary  of  me,  and  at  last,  to  get  rid  of  me, 
changed  me  into  this  form,  as  she  had  done  to  many 
lovers  before  me,  making  some  of  them  olives,  some 
palms,  some  cedars,  changing  others  into  fountains, 
rocks,  or  even  into  wild  beasts.  And'thou,  courteous 
knight,  whom  accident  has  brought  to  this  enchanted 
isle,  beware  that  she  get  not  the  power  over  thee,  or 
thou  shalt  haply  be  made  like  us,  a  tree,  a  fountain, 
or  a  rock." 

Rogero  expressed  his  astonishment  at  this  recital. 
Astolpho  added  that  the  island  was  in  great  part  sub- 
ject to  the  sway  of  Alcina.  By  the  aid  of  her  sister 
Morgana,  she  had  succeeded  in  dispossessing  a  third 
sister,  Logestilla,  of  nearly  the  whole  of  her  patri- 
mony, for  the  whole  isle  was  hers  originally  by  her 
father's  bequest.  But  Logestilla  was  temperate  and 
sage,  while  the  other  sisters  were  false  and  voluptuous. 
Her  empire  was  divided  from  theirs  by  a  gulf  and 
chain  of  mountains,  which  alone  had  thus  far  pre- 
vented her  sister  from  usurping  it. 

Astolpho  here  ended  his  tale,  and  Rogero,  who 
knew  that  he  was  the  cousin  of  Bradamante,  would 
gladly  have  devised  some  way  for  his  relief;  but,  as 
that  was  out  of  his  power,  he  consoled  him  as  well  as 
he  could,  and  then  begged  to  be  told  the  way  to  the 
palace  of  Logestilla,  and  how  to  avoid  that  of  Alcina. 


86  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

Astolpho  directed  him  to  take  the  road  to  the  left, 
though  rough  and  full  of  rocks.  He  warned  him  that 
this  road  would  present  serious  obstacles  ;  that  troops 
of  monsters  would  oppose  his  passage,  employed  by  the 
art  of  Alcina  to  prevent  her  subjects  from  escaping 
from  her  dominion.  Rogero  thanked  the  myrtle,  and 
prepared  to  set  out  on  his  way. 

He  at  first  thought  he  would  mount  the  winged 
horse,  and  scale  the  mountain  on  his  back  ;  but  he 
was  too  uncertain  of  his  power  to  control  him  to  wish 
to  encounter  the  hazard  of  another  flight  through  the 
air,  besides  that  he  was  almost  famished  for  the  want 
of  food.  So  he  led  the  horse  after  him,  and  took  the 
road  on  foot,  which  for  some  distance  led  equally  to 
the  dominions  of  both  the  sisters. 

He  had  not  advanced  more  than  two  miles  when  he 
saw  before  him  the  superb  city  of  Alcina.  It  was  sur- 
rounded with  a  wall  of  gold,  which  seemed  to  reach 
the  skies.  I  know  that  some  think  that  this  wall  was 
not  of  real  gold,  but  only  the  work  of  alchemy  ;  it 
matters  not ;  I  prefer  to  think  it  gold,  for  it  certainly 
shone  like  gold. 

A  broad  and  level  road  led  to  the  gates  of  the  city, 
and  from  this  another  branched  off,  narrow  and  rough, 
which  led  to  the  mountain  region.  Rogero  took  with- 
out hesitation  the  narrow  road  ;  but  he  had  no  sooner 
entered  upon  it  than  he  was  assailed  by  a  numerous 
troop  which  opposed  his  passage. 

You  never  have  seen  anything  so  ridiculous,  so  ex- 
traordinary, as  this  host  of  hobgoblins  were.  Some 
of  them  bore  the  human  form  from  the  neck  to  the  feet, 
but  had  the  head  of  a  monkey  or  a  cat ;  others  had  the 
legs  and  the  ears  of  a  horse  ;  old  men  and  women, 
bald  and  hideous,  ran  hither  and  thither  as  if  out  of 


ASTOLPHO   AND    THE    ENCHANTRESS.      87 

their  senses,  half  clad  in  the  shaggy  skins  of  beasts ;  one 
rode  full  speed  on  a  horse  without  a  bridle,  another 
jogged  along  mounted  on  an  ass  or  a  cow  ;  others,  full 
of  agility,  skipped  about,  and  clung  to  the  tails  and 
manes  of  the  animals  which  their  companions  rode. 
Some  blew  horns,  others  brandished  drinking-cups  ; 
some  were  armed  with  spits,  and  some  with  pitchforks. 
One,  who  appeared  to  be  the  captain,  had  an  enor- 
mous belly  and  a  gross  fat  head  ;  he  was  mounted  on  a 
tortoise,  that  waddled,  now  this  way,  now  that,  with- 
out keeping  any  one  direction. 

One  of  these  monsters,  who  had  something  approach- 
ing the  human  form,  though  he  had  the  neck,  ears, 
and  muzzle  of  a  dog,  set  himself  to  bark  furiously  at 
Rogero,  to  make  him  turn  off  to  the  right,  and  reenter 
upon  the  road  to  the  gay  city  ;  but  the  brave  chevalier 
exclaimed,  "  That  will  I  not,  so  long  as  I  can  use  this 
sword,"  — and  he  thrust  the  point  directly  at  his  face. 
The  monster  tried  to  strike  him  with  a  lance,  but 
Rogero  was  too  quick  for  him,  and  thrust  his  sword 
through  his  body,  so  that  it  appeared  a  hand's  breadth 
behind  his  back.  The  paladin,  now  giving  full  vent  to 
his  rage,  laid  about  him  vigorously  among  the  rabble, 
cleaving  one  to  the  teeth,  another  to  the  girdle  ;  but 
the  troop  were  so  numerous,  and  in  spite  of  his  blows 
pressed  around  him  so  close,  that,  to  clear  his  way,  he 
must  have  had  as  many  arms  as  Briareus. 

If  Rogero  had  uncovered  the  shield  of  the  enchanter, 
which  hung  at  his  saddle-bow,  he  might  easily  have 
vanquished  this  monstrous  rout  ;  but  perhaps  he  did 
not  think  of  it,  and  perhaps  he  preferred  to  seek  his 
defence  nowhere  but  in  his  good  sword.  At  that 
moment,  when  his  perplexity  was  at  its  height,  he  saw 
issue  from  the  city  gate  two  young  beauties,  whose  air 


88  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  dress  proclaimed  their  rank  and  gentle  nurture. 
Each  of  them  was  mounted  on  a  unicorn,  whose  white- 
ness surpassed  that  of  ermine.  They  advanced  to  the 
meadow  where  Rogero  was  contending  so  valiantly 
against  the  hobgoblins,  who  all  retired  at  their  ap- 
proach. They  drew  near,  they  extended  their  hands 
to  the  young  warrior,  whose  cheeks  glowed  with  the 
flush  of  exercise  and  modesty.  Grateful  for  their 
assistance,  he  expressed  his  thanks,  and,  having  no 
heart  to  refuse  them,  followed  their  guidance  to  the 
gate  of  the  city. 

This  grand  and  beautiful  entrance  was  adorned  by 
a  portico  of  four  vast  columns,  all  of  diamond. 
Whether  they  were  real  diamond  or  artificial  I  cannot 
say.  What  matter  is  it,  so  long  as  they  appeared  to 
the  eye  like  diamond,  and  nothing  could  be  more  gay 
and  splendid. 

On  the  threshold,  and  between  the  columns,  was 
seen  a  bevy  of  charming  young  women,  who  played 
and  frolicked  together.  They  all  ran  to  receive 
Rogero,  and  conducted  him  into  the  palace,  which 
appeared  like  a  paradise. 

We  might  well  call  by  that  name  this  abode,  where 
the  hours  flew  by,  without  account,  in  ever-new  de- 
lights. The  bare  idea  of  satiety,  want,  and,  above 
all,  of  age,  never  entered  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants. 
They  experienced  no  sensations  except  those  of  luxury 
and  gayety  ;  the  cup  of  happiness  seemed  for  them 
ever-flowing  and  exhaustless.  The  two  young  damsels 
to  whom  Rogero  owed  his  deliverance  from  the  hob- 
goblins conducted  him  to  the  apartment  of  their 
mistress.  The  beautiful  Alcina  advanced,  and  greeted 
him  with  an  air  at  once  dignified  and  courteous.  All 
her  court  surrounded  the  paladin,  and  rendered  him 


ASTOLPHO    AND    THE    ENCHANTRESS.      89 

the  most  flattering  attentions.  The  castle  was  less 
admirable  for  its  magnificence  than  for  the  charms  of 
those  who  inhabited  it.  They  were  of  either  sex, 
well  matched  in  beauty,  youth,  and  grace  ;  but  among 
this  charming  group  the  brilliant  Alcina  shone,  as  the 
sun  outshines  the  stars.  The  young  warrior  was 
fascinated.  All  that  he  had  heard  from  the  myrtle- 
tree  appeared  to  him  but  a  vile  calumny.  How  could 
he  suspect  that  falsehood  and  treason  veiled  themselves 
under  smiles  and  the  ingenuous  air  of  truth  ?  He 
doubted  not  that  Astolpho  had  deserved  his  fate,  and 
perhaps  a  punishment  more  severe  ;  he  regarded  all  his 
stories  as  dictated  by  a  disappointed  spirit,  and  a  thirst 
for  revenge.  But  we  must  not  condemn  Rogero  too 
harshly,  for  he  was  the  victim  of  magic  power. 

They  seated  themselves  at  table,  and  immediately 
harmonious  lyres  and  harps  waked  the  air  with  the 
most  ravishing  notes.  The  charms  of  poetry  were 
added  in  entertaining  recitals  ;  the  magnificence  of  the 
feast  would  have  done  credit  to  a  royal  board.  The 
traitress  forgot  nothing  which  might  charm  the  paladin, 
and  attach  him  to  the  spot,  meaning,  when  she  should 
grow  tired  of  him,  to  metamorphose  him  as  she  had 
done  others.  In  the  same  manner  passed  each  suc- 
ceeding day.  Games  of  pleasant  exercise,  the  chase, 
the  dance,  or  rural  sports,  made  the  hours  pass  quickly  ; 
while  they  gave  zest  to  the  refreshment  of  the  bath,  or 
sleep. 

Thus  Rogero  led  a  life  of  ease  and  luxury,  while 
Charlemagne  and  Agramant  were  struggling  for  empire. 
But  I  cannot  linger  with  him  while  the  amiable  and 
courageous  Bradamante  is  night  and  day  directing  her 
uncertain  steps  to  every  spot  where  the  slightest  chance 
invites  her,  in  the  hope  of  recovering  Rogero. 


90  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

I  will  therefore  say  that,  having  sought  him  in  vain 
in  fields  and  in  cities,  she  knew  not  whither  next  to 
direct  her  steps.  She  did  not  apprehend  the  death  of 
Rogero.  The  fall  of  such  a  hero  would  have  re- 
echoed from  the  Hydaspes  to  the  farthest  river  of  the 
West  ;  but,  not  knowing  whether  he  was  on  the  earth 
or  in  the  air,  she  concluded,  as  a  last  resource,  to  re- 
turn to  the  cavern  which  contained  the  tomb  of  Merlin, 
to  ask  of  him  some  sure  direction  to  the  object  of  her 
search. 

While  this  thought  occupied  her  mind,  Melissa,  the 
sage  enchantress,  suddenly  appeared  before  her.  This 
virtuous  and  beneficent  magician  had  discovered  by 
her  spells  that  Rogero  was  passing  his  time  in  pleasure 
and  idleness,  forgetful  of  his  honor  and  his  sovereign. 
Not  able  to  endure  the  thought  that  one  who  was  born 
to  be  a  hero  should  waste  his  years  in  base  repose,  and 
leave  a  sullied  reputation  in  the  memory  of  survivors, 
she  saw  that  vigorous  measures  must  be  employed  to 
draw  him  forth  into  the  paths  of  virtue.  Melissa  was 
not  blinded  by  her  affection  for  the  amiable  paladin, 
like  Atlantes,  who,  intent  only  on  preserving  Rogero's 
life,  cared  nothing  for  his  fame.  It  was  that  old  en- 
chanter whose  arts  had  guided  the  HippogrilF  to  the 
isle  of  the  too  charming  Alcina,  where  he  hoped  his 
favorite  would  learn  to  forget  honor,  and  lose  the  love 
of  glory. 

At  the  sight  of  Melissa  joy  lighted  up  the  coun- 
tenance of  Bradamante,  and  hope  animated  her  breast. 
Melissa  concealed  nothing  from  her,  but  told  her  how 
Rogero  was  in  the  toils  of  Alcina.  Bradamante  was 
plunged  in  grief  and  terror  ;  but  the  kind  enchantress 
calmed  her,  dispelled  her  fears,  and  promised  that  before 
many  days  she  would  lead  back  the  paladin  to  her  feet. 


ASTOLPHO    AND    THE    ENCHANTRESS.      91 

"  My  daughter,"  she  said,  "  give  me  the  ring  which 
you  wear,  and  which  possesses  the  power  to  overcome 
enchantments.  By  means  of  it  I  doubt  not  but  that 
I  may  enter  the  stronghold  where  the  false  Alcina 
holds  Rogero  in  durance,  and  may  succeed  in  van- 
quishing her  and  liberating  him."  Bradamante  un- 
hesitatingly delivered  her  the  ring,  recommending 
Rogero  to  her  best  efforts.  Melissa  then  summoned 
by  her  art  a  huge  palfrey,  black  as  jet,  excepting  one 
foot,  which  was  bay.  Mounted  upon  this  animal,  she 
rode  with  such  speed  that  by  the  next  morning  she 
had  reached  the  abode  of  Alcina. 

She  here  transformed  herself  into  the  perfect  re- 
semblance of  the  old  magician  Atlantes,  adding  a 
palm-breadth  to  her  height,  and  enlarging  her  whole 
figure.  Her  chin  she  covered  with  a  long  beard,  and 
seamed  her  whole  visage  well  with  wrinkles.  She 
assumed  also  his  voice  and  manner,  and  watched  her 
chance  to  find  Rogero  alone.  At  last  she  found  him, 
dressed  in  a  rich  tunic  of  silk  and  gold,  a  collar  of 
precious  stones  about  his  neck,  and  his  arms,  once  so 
rough  with  exercise,  decorated  with  bracelets.  His 
air  and  his  every  motion  indicated  effieminacy,  and  he 
seemed  to  retain  nothing  of  Rogero  but  the  name  ; 
such  power  had  the  enchantress  obtained  over  him. 

Melissa,  under  the  form  of  his  old  instructor,  pre- 
sented herself  before  him,  wearing  a  stern  and  serious 
visage.  "Is  this,  then,"  she  said,  "the  fruit  of  all 
my  labors  ?  Is  it  for  this  that  I  fed  you  on  the  mar- 
row of  bears  and  lions,  that  I  taught  you  to  subdue 
dragons,  and,  like  Hercules,  strangle  serpents  in  your 
youthful  grasp,  only  to  make  you,  by  all  my  cares,  a 
feeble  Adonis  ?  My  nightly  watchings  of  the  stars, 
of  the  yet  warm  fibres  of  animals,  the  lots  I  have 


92  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

cast,  the  points  of  nativity  that  I  have  calculated, 
have  they  all  falsely  indicated  that  you  were  born  for 
greatness  ?  Who  could  have  believed  that  you  would 
become  the  slave  of  a  base  enchantress  ?  O  Rogero, 
learn  to  know  this  Alcina,  learn  to  understand  her 
arts  and  to  countervail  them.  Take  this  ring,  place 
it  on  your  finger,  return  to  her  presence,  and  see  for 
yourself  what  are  her  real  charms." 

At  these  words,  Rogero,  confused,  abashed,  cast 
his  eyes  upon  the  ground,  and  knew  not  what  to 
answer.  Melissa  seized  the  moment,  slipped  the  ring 
on  his  finger,  and  the  paladin  was  himself  again. 
What  a  thunder-clap  to  him  !  Overcome  by  shame, 
he  dared  not  to  encounter  the  looks  of  his  instructor. 
When  at  last  he  raised  his  eyes  he  beheld  not  that 
venerable  form,  but  the  priestess  Melissa,  who  in 
virtue  of  the  ring  now  appeared  in  her  true  person. 
She  told  him  of  the  motives  which  had  led  her  to  come 
to  his  rescue,  of  the  griefs  and  regrets  of  Bradamante, 
and  of  her  unwearied  search  for  him.  «'  That  charm- 
ing Amazon,"  she  said,  "sends  you  this  ring,  which 
is  a  sovereign  antidote  to  all  enchantments.  She 
would  have  sent  you  her  heart  in  my  hands,  if  it 
would  have  had  greater  power  to  serve  you." 

It  was  needless  for  Melissa  to  say  more.  Rogero's 
love  for  Alcina,  being  but  the  work  of  enchantment, 
vanished  as  soon  as  the  enchantment  was  withdrawn, 
and  he  now  hated  her  with  an  equal  intensity,  seeing 
no  longer  anything  in  her  but  her  vices,  and  feeling 
only  resentment  for  the  shame  that  she  had  put  upon 
him. 

His  surprise  when  he  again  beheld  Alcina  was  no 
less  than  his  indignation.  Fortified  by  his  ring  from 
her  enchantments,  he  saw  her  as  she  was,  a  monster 


ASTOLPHO    AND    THE    ENCHANTRESS.      93 

of  ugliness.  All  her  charms  were  artificial,  and,  truly 
viewed,  were  rather  deformities.  She  was,  in  fact, 
older  than  Hecuba  or  the  Sibyl  of  Cumae  ;  but  an  art, 
which  it  is  to  be  regretted  our  times  have  lost,  enabled 
her  to  appear  charming,  and  to  clothe  herself  in  all  the 
attractions  of  youth.  Rogero  now  saw  all  this,  but, 
governed  by  the  counsels  of  Melissa,  he  concealed  his 
surprise,  assumed  under  some  pretext  his  armor,  long 
neglected,  and  bound  to  his  side  Belisarda,  his  trusty 
sword,  taking  also  the  buckler  of  Atlantes,  covered  with 
its  veil: 

He  then  selected  a  horse  from  the  stables  of  Alcina, 
without  exciting  her  suspicions  ;  but  he  left  the  Hippo- 
griff,  by  the  advice  of  Melissa,  who  promised  to  take 
him  in  charge,  and  train  him  to  a  more  manageable 
state.  The  horse  he  took  was  Rabican,  which  be- 
longed to  Astolpho.  He  restored  the  ring  to  Melissa. 

Rogero  had  not  ridden  far  when  he  met  one  of  the 
huntsmen  of  Alcina,  bearing  a  falcon  on  his  wrist,  and 
followed  by  a  dog.  The  huntsman  was  mounted  on  a 
powerful  horse,  and  came  boldly  up  to  the  paladin, 
demanding,  in  a  somewhat  imperious  manner,  whither 
he  was  going  so  rapidly.  Rogero  disdained  to  stop  or 
to  reply  ;  whereupon  the  huntsman,  not  doubting  that 
he  was  about  making  his  escape,  said,  f<  What  if  I, 
with  my  falcon,  stop  your  ride?"  So  saying,  he 
threw  off  the  bird,  which  even  Rabican  could  not 
equal  in  speed.  The  huntsman  then  leapt  from  his 
horse,  and  the  animal,  open-mouthed,  darted  after 
Rogero  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow.  The  hunts- 
man also  ran  as  if  the  wind  or  fire  bore  him,  and  the 
dog  was  equal  to  Rabican  in  swiftness.  Rogero,  find- 
ing flight  impossible,  stopped  and  faced  his  pursuers  ; 
but  his  sword  was  useless  against  such  foes.  The 


94  LEGENDS   OP   CHARLEMAGNE. 

insolent  huntsman  assailed  him  with  words,  and  struck 
him  with  his  whip,  the  only  weapon  he  had  ;  the  dog 
bit  his  feet,  and  the  horse  drove  at  him  with  his  hoofs. 
At  the  same  time  the  falcon  flew  over  his  head  and 
over  Rabican's  and  attacked  them  with  claws  and 
wings,  so  that  the  horse  in  his  fright  began  to  be  un- 
manageable. At  that  moment  the  sound  of  trumpets 
and  cymbals  was  heard  in  the  valley,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  Alcina  had  ordered  out  all  her  array  to  go  in 
pursuit.  Rogero  felt  that  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost, 
and  luckily  remembered  the  shield  of  Atlantes,  which 
he  bore  suspended  from  his  neck.  He  unveiled  it,  and 
the  charm  worked  wonderfully.  The  huntsman,  the 
dog,  the  horse,  fell  flat  ;  the  trembling  wings  of  the 
falcon  could  no  longer  sustain  her,  and  she  fell  senseless 
to  the  ground.  Rogero,  rid  of  their  annoyances,  left 
them  in  their  trance,  and  rode  away. 

Meanwhile  Alcina,  with  all  the  force  she  could 
muster,  sallied  forth  from  her  palace  in  pursuit.  Me- 
lissa, left  behind,  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to 
ransack  all  the  rooms,  protected  by  the  ring.  She 
undid  one  by  one  all  the  talismans  and  spells  which  she 
found,  broke  the  seals,  burned  the  images,  and  untied 
the  hag-knots.  Thence,  hurrying  through  the  fields, 
she  disenchanted  the  victims  changed  into  trees,  foun- 
tains, stones,  or  brutes  ;  all  of  whom  recovered  their 
liberty,  and  vowed  eternal  gratitude  to  their  deliverer. 
They  made  their  escape,  with  all  possible  despatch,  to 
the  realms  of  the  good  Logestilla,  whence  they 
departed  to  their  several  homes. 

Astolpho  was  the  first  whom  Melissa  liberated,  for 
Rogero  had  particularly  recommended  him  to  her  care. 
She  aided  him  to  recover  his  arms,  and  particularly 
that  precious  golden-headed  lance  which  once  was 


THE   ORC.  95 

Argalia's.  The  enchantress  mounted  with  him  upon 
the  winged  horse,  and  in  a  short  time  arrived  through 
the  air  at  the  castle  of  Logestilla,  where  Rogero  joined 
them  soon  after. 

In  this  abode  the  friends  passed  a  short  period  of 
delightful  and  improving  intercourse  with  the  sage 
Logestilla  and  her  virtuous  court ;  and  then  each 
departed,  Rogero  with  the  Hippogriff,  ring,  and  buck- 
ler ;  Astolpho  with  his  golden  lance,  and  mounted  on 
Rabican,  the  fleetest  of  steeds.  To  Rogero  Logestilla 
gave  a  bit  and  bridle  suited  to  govern  the  HippogrifF ; 
and  to  Astolpho  a  horn  of  marvellous  powers,  to  be 
sounded  only  when  all  other  weapons  were  unavailing. 


THE   ORC. 

WE  left  the  charming  Angelica  at  the  moment 
when,  in  her  flight  from  her  contending  lovers,  Sacri- 
pant  and  Rinaldo,  she  met  an  aged  hermit.  We  have 
seen  that  her  request  to  the  hermit  was  to  furnish  her 
the  means  of  gaining  the  sea-coast,  eager  to  avoid 
Rinaldo,  whom  she  hated,  by  leaving  France  and 
Europe  itself.  The  pretended  hermit,  who  was  no 
other  than  a  vile  magician,  knowing  well  that  it  would 
not  be  agreeable  to  his  false  gods  to  aid  Angelica- in 
this  undertaking,  feigned  to  comply  with  her  desire. 
He  supplied  her  a  horse,  into  which  he  had  by  his 
arts  caused  a  subtle  devil  to  enter,  and,  having  mounted 
Angelica  on  the  animal,  directed  her  what  course  to 
take  to  reach  the  sea. 

Angelica  rode  on  her  way  without  suspicion,  but 
when  arrived  at  the  shore,  the  demon  urged  the  ani- 


96  LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

mal  headlong  into  the  water.  Angelica  in  vain  at- 
tempted to  turn  him  back  to  the  land  ;  he  continued 
his  course  till,  as  night  approached,  he  landed  with 
his  burden  on  a  sandy  headland. 

Angelica,  finding  herself  alone,  abandoned  in  this 
frightful  solitude,  remained  without  movement,  as  if 
stupefied,  with  hands  joined  and  eyes  turned  towards 
heaven,  till  at  last,  pouring  forth  a  torrent  of  tears, 
she  exclaimed  :  *'  Cruel  fortune,  have  you  not  yet  ex- 
hausted your  rage  against  me  ?  To  what  new  miseries 
do  you  doom  me  ?  Alas  !  then  finish  your  work  ! 
Deliver  me  a  prey  to  some  ferocious  beast,  or  by 
whatever  fate  you  choose  bring  me  to  an  end.  I  will 
be  thankful  to  you  for  terminating  my  life  and  my 
misery."  At  last,  exhausted  by  her  sorrows,  she  fell 
asleep,  and  sunk  prostrate  on  the  sand. 

Before  recounting  what  next  befell,  we  must  declare 
what  place  it  was  upon  which  the  unhappy  lady  was 
now  thrown.  In  the  sea  that  washes  the  coast  of 
Ireland  there  is  an  island  called  Ebuda,  whose  inhab- 
itants, once  numerous,  had  been  wasted  by  the  anger 
of  Proteus  till  there  were  now  but  few  left.  This 
deity  was  incensed  by  some  neglect  of  the  usual  honors 
which  he  had  in  old  times  received  from  the  inhabitants 
of  the  land,  and,  to  execute  his  vengeance,  had  sent  a 
horrid  sea-monster,  called  an  Ore,  to  devour  them. 
Such  were  the  terrors  of  his  ravages  that  the  whole 
people  of  the  isle  had  shut  themselves  up  in  the  prin- 
cipal town,  and  relied  on  their  walls  alone  to  protect 
them.  In  this  distress  they  applied  to  the  Oracle  for 
advice,  and  were  directed  to  appease  the  wrath  of  the 
sea-monster  by  offering  to  him  the  fairest  virgin  that 
the  country  could  produce. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  the  very  day  when  this 


THE   ORC.  97 

dreadful  oracle  was  announced,  and  when  the  fatal 
mandate  had  gone  forth  to  seek  among  the  fairest 
maidens  of  the  land  one  to  be  offered  to  the  monster, 
some  sailors,  landing  on  the  beach  where  Angelica  was, 
beheld  that  beauty  as  she  lay  asleep. 

O  blind  Chance  !  whose  power  in  human  affairs  is 
but  too  great,  canst  thou  then  abandon  to  the  teeth  of 
a  horrible  monster  those  charms  which  different  sover- 
eigns took  arms  against  one  another  to  possess  ?  Alas  ! 
the  lovely  Angelica  is  destined  to  be  the  victim  of 
those  cruel  islanders. 

Still  asleep,  she  was  bound  by  the  Ebudians,  and  it 
was  not  until  she  was  carried  on  board  the  vessel  that 
she  came  to  a  knowledge  of  her  situation.  The  wind 
filled  the  sails  and  wafted  the  ship  swiftly  to  the  port, 
where  all  that  beheld  her  agreed  that  she  was  un- 
questionably the  victim  selected  by  Proteus  himself  to 
be  his  prey.  Who  can  tell  the  screams,  the  mortal 
anguish  of  this  unhappy  maiden,  the  reproaches  she 
addressed  even  to  the  heavens  themselves,  when  the 
dreadful  information  of  her  cruel  fate  was  made  known 
to  her  ?  I  cannot ;  let  me  rather  turn  to  a  happier  part 
of  my  story. 

Rogero  left  the  palace  of  Logestilla,  careering  on  his 
flying  courser  far  above  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  and 
borne  westward  by  the  Hippogriff,  which  he  guided 
with  ease,  by  means  of  the  bridle  that  Melissa  had 
given  him.  Anxious  as  he  was  to  recover  Bradamante, 
he  could  not  fail  to  be  delighted  at  the  view  his  rapid 
flight  presented  of  so  many  vast  regions  and  populous 
countries  as  he  passed  over  in  his  career.  At  last  he 
approached  the  shores  of  England,  and  perceived  an 
immense  army  in  all  the  splendor  of  military  pomp,  as 
if  about  to  go  forth  flushed  with  hopes  of  victory.  He 


98  LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

caused  the  Hippogriff  to  alight  not  far  from  the  scene, 
and  found  himself  immediately  surrounded  by  admiring 
spectators,  knights  and  soldiers,  who  could  not  enough 
indulge  their  curiosity  and  wonder.  Rogero  learned, 
in  reply  to  his  questions,  that  the  fine  array  of  troops 
before  him  was  the  army  destined  to  go  to  the  aid  of 
the  French  Emperor,  in  compliance  with  the  request 
presented  by  the  illustrious  Rinaldo,  as  ambassador  of 
King  Charles,  his  uncle. 

By  this  time  the  curiosity  of  the  English  chevaliers 
was  partly  gratified  in  beholding  the  HippogrifF  at 
rest,  and  Rogero,  to  renew  their  surprise  and  delight, 
remounted  the  animal,  and,  clapping  spurs  to  his  sides, 
made  him  launch  into  the  air  with  the  rapidity  of  a 
meteor,  and  directed  his  flight  still  westwardly,  till  he 
came  within  sight  of  the  coasts  of  Ireland.  Here  he 
descried  what  seemed  to  be  a  fair  damsel,  alone,  fast 
chained  to  a  rock  which  projected  into  the  sea.  What 
was  his  astonishment  when,  drawing  nigh,  he  beheld 
the  beautiful  princess  Angelica  !  That  day  she  had 
been  led  forth  and  bound  to  the  rock,  there  to  wait  till 
the  sea-monster  should  come  to  devour  her.  Rogero 
exclaimed  as  he  came  near,  "  What  cruel  hands,  what 
barbarous  soul,  what  fatal  chance  can  have  loaded  thee 
with  those  chains  ? ' '  Angelica  replied  by  a  torrent 
of  tears,  at  first  her  only  response  ;  then,  in  a  tremb- 
ling voice,  she  disclosed  to  him  the  horrible  destiny 
for  which  she  was  there  exposed.  While  she  spoke, 
a  terrible  roaring  was  heard  far  off  on  the  sea.  The 
huge  monster  soon  came  in  sight,  part  of  his  body  ap- 
pearing above  the  waves  and  part  concealed.  Angel- 
ica, half  dead  with  fear,  abandoned  herself  to  despair. 

Rogero,  lance  in  rest,  spurred  his  HippogrifF  toward 
the  Ore,  and  gave  him  a  thrust.  The  horrible  mon- 


THE   ORC.  99 

ster  was  like  nothing  that  nature  produces.  It  was 
but  one  mass  of  tossing  and  twisting  body,  with  noth- 
ing of  the  animal  but  head,  eyes,  and  mouth,  the  last 
furnished  with  tusks  like  those  of  the  wild  boar. 
Rogero's  lance  had  struck  him  between  the  eyes  ;  bur 
rock  and  iron  are  not  more  impenetrable  than  were 
his  scales.  The  knight,  seeing  the  fruitlessness  of  the 
first  blow,  prepared  to  give  a  second.  The  animal, 
beholding  upon  the  water  the  shadow  of  the  great 
wings  of  the  Hippogriff,  abandoned  his  prey,  and 
turned  to  seize  what  seemed  nearer.  Rogero  took  the 
opportunity,  and  dealt  him  furious  blows  on  various 
parts  of  his  body,  taking  care  to  keep  clear  of  his  mur- 
derous teeth ;  but  the  scales  resisted  every  attack. 
The  Ore  beat  the  water  with  his  tail  till  he  raised  a 
foam  which  enveloped  Rogero  and  his  steed,  so  that 
the  knight  hardly  knew  whether  he  was  in  the  water 
or  the  air.  He  began  to  fear  that  the  wings  of  the 
Hippogriff  would  be  so  drenched  with  water  that  they 
would  cease  to  sustain  him.  At  that  moment  Rogero 
bethought  him  of  the  magic  shield  which  hung  at  his 
saddle-bow  ;  but  the  fear  that  Angelica  would  also  be 
blinded  by  its  glare  discouraged  him  from  employing 
it.  Then  he  remembered  the  ring  which  Melissa  had 
given  him,  the  power  of  which  he  had  so  lately 
proved.  He  hastened  to  Angelica  and  placed  it  on 
her  finger.  Then,  uncovering  the  buckler,  he  turned 
its  bright  disk  full  in  the  face  of  the  detestable  Ore. 
The  effect  was  instantaneous.  The  monster,  deprived 
of  sense  and  motion,  rolled  over  on  the  sea,  and  lay 
floating  on  his  back.  Rogero  would  fain  have  tried 
the  effect  of  his  lance  on  the  now  exposed  parts,  but 
Angelica  implored  him  to  lose  no  time  in  delivering 
her  from  her  chains  before  the  monster  should  revive. 


100         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Rogero,  moved  with  her  entreaties,  hastened  to  do  so, 
and,  having  unbound  her,  made  her  mount  behind  him 
on  the  Hippogriff.  The  animal,  spurning  the  earth, 
shot  up  into  the  air,  and  rapidly  sped  his  way  through 
it.  Rogero,  to  give  time  to  the  princess  to  rest  after 
her  cruel  agitations,  soon  sought  the  earth  again,  alight- 
ing on  the  shore  of  Brittany.  Near  the  shore  a  thick 
wood  presented  itself,  which  resounded  with  the  songs 
of  birds.  In  the  midst,  a  fountain  of  transparent  water 
bathed  the  turf  of  a  little  meadow.  A  gentle  hill 
rose  near  by.  Rogero,  making  the  Hippogriff  alight 
in  the  meadow,  dismounted,  and  took  Angelica  from 
the  horse. 

When  the  first  tumults  of  emotion  had  subsided 
Angelica,  casting  her  eyes  downward,  beheld  the 
precious  ring  upon  her  finger,  whose  virtues  she  was 
well  acquainted  with,  for  it  was  the  very  ring  which 
the  Saracen  Brunello  had  robbed  her  of.  She  drew 
it  from  her  finger  and  placed  it  in  her  mouth,  and, 
quicker  than  we  can  tell  it,  disappeared  from  the  sight 
of  the  paladin. 

Rogero  looked  around  him  on  all  sides,  like  one 
frantic,  but  soon  remembered  the  ring  which  he  had 
so  lately  placed  on  her  finger.  Struck  with  the  in- 
gratitude which  could  thus  recompense  his  services, 
he  exclaimed  :  "  Thankless  beauty,  is  this  then  the 
reward  you  make  me  ?  Do  you  prefer  to  rob  me  of 
my  ring  rather  than  receive  it  as  a  gift  ?  Willingly 
would  I  have  given  it  to  you,  had  you  but  asked  it. ' ' 
Thus  he  said,  searching  on  all  sides  with  arms  ex- 
tended like  a  blind  man,  hoping  to  recover  by  the 
touch  what  was  lost  to  sight  ;  but  he  sought  in  vain. 
The  cruel  beauty  was  already  far  away. 

Though  sensible  of  her  obligations  to  her  deliverer, 


THE   ORC.  101 

her  first  necessity  was  for  clothing,  food,  and  repose. 
She  soon  reached  a  shepherd's  hut,  where,  entering 
unseen,  she  found  what  sufficed  for  her  present  relief. 
An  old  "herdsman  inhabited  the  hut,  whose  charges 
consisted  of  a  drove  of  mares.  When  recruited  by 
repose  Angelica  selected  one  of  the  mares  from  the 
flock,  and,  mounting  the  animal,  felt  the  desire  revive 
in  her  mind  of  returning  to  her  home  in  the  East,  and 
for  that  purpose  would  gladly  have  accepted  the  pro- 
tection of  Orlando  or  of  Sacripant  across  those  wide 
regions  which  divided  her  from  her  own  country.  In 
hopes  of  meeting  with  one  or  the  other  of  them  she 
pursued  her  way. 

Meanwhile  Rogero,  despairing  of  seeing  Angelica 
again,  returned  to  the  tree  where  he  had  left  his 
winged  horse,  but  had  the  mortification  to  find  that 
the  animal  had  broken  his  bridle  and  escaped.  This 
loss,  added  to  his  previous  disappointment,  over- 
whelmed him  with  vexation.  Sadly  he  gathered  up 
his  arms,  threw  his  buckler  over  his  shoulders,  and, 
taking  the  first  path  that  offered,  soon  found  himself 
within  the  verge  of  a  dense  and  wide-spread  forest. 

He  had  proceeded  for  some  distance  when  he  heard 
a  noise  on  his  right,  and,  listening  attentively,  dis- 
tinguished the  clash  of  arms.  He  made  his  way 
toward  the  place  whence  the  sound  proceeded,  and 
found  two  warriors  engaged  in  mortal  combat.  One 
of  them  was  a  knight  of  a  noble  and  manly  bearing, 
the  other  a  fierce  giant.  The  knight  appeared  to 
exert  consummate  address  in  defending  himself  against 
the  massive  club  of  the  giant,  evading  his  strokes,  or 
parrying  them  with  sword  or  shield.  Rogero  stood 
spectator  of  the  combat,  for  he  did  not  allow  himself 
to  interfere  in  it,  though  a  secret  sentiment  inclined 


102         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

him  strongly  to  take  part  with  the  knight.  At  length 
he  saw  with  grief  the  massive  club  fall  directly  on  the 
head  of  the  knight,  who  yielded  to  the  blow,  and  fell 
prostrate.  The  giant  sprang  forward  to  despatch  him, 
and  for  that  purpose  unlaced  his  helmet,  when  Rogero, 
with  dismay,  recognized  the  face  of  Bradamante.  He 
cried  aloud,  "  Hold,  miscreant  !  "  and  sprang  forward 
with  drawn  sword.  Whereupon  the  giant,  as  if  he 
cared  not  to  enter  upon  another  combat,  lifted  Brada- 
mante on  his  shoulders,  and  ran  with  her  into  the 
forest. 

Rogero  plunged  after  him,  but  the  long  legs  of  the 
giant  carried  him  forward  so  fast  that  the  paladin  could 
hardly  keep  him  in  sight.  At  length  they  issued  from 
the  wood,  and  Rogero  perceived  before  him  a  rich 
palace,  built  of  marble,  and  adorned  with  sculptures 
executed  by  a  master  hand.  Into  this  edifice,  through 
a  golden  door,  the  giant  passed,  and  Rogero  followed  ; 
but,  on  looking  round,  saw  nowhere  either  the  giant 
or  Bradamante.  He  ran  from  room  to  room,  calling 
aloud  on  his  cowardly  foe  to  turn  and  meet  him  ;  but 
got  no  response,  nor  caught  another  glimpse  of  the 
giant  or  his  prey.  In  his  vain  pursuit  he  met,  with- 
out knowing  them,  Ferrau,  Florismart,  King  Gradasso, 
Orlando,  and  many  others,  all  of  whom  had  been  en- 
trapped like  himself  into  this  enchanted  castle.  It  was 
a  new  stratagem  of  the  magician  Atlantes  to  draw 
Rogero  into  his  power,  and  to  secure  also  those  who 
might  by  any  chance  endanger  his  safety.  What 
Rogero  had  taken  for  Bradamante  was  a  mere  phan- 
tom. That  charming  lady  was  far  away,  full  of 
anxiety  for  her  Rogero,  whose  coming  she  had  long 
expected. 

The  Emperor  had  committed  to  her  charge  the  city 


THE   ORC.  103 

and  garrison  of  Marseilles,  and  she  held  the  post 
against  the  infidels  with  valor  and  discretion.  One 
day  Melissa  suddenly  presented  herself  before  her. 
Anticipating  her  questions,  she  said,  "  Fear  not  for 
Rogero  ;  he  lives,  and  is  as  ever  true  to  you  ;  but  he 
has  lost  his  liberty.  The  fell  enchanter  has  again  suc- 
ceeded in  making  him  a  prisoner.  If  you  would  de- 
liver him,  mount  your  horse  and  follow  me."  She 
told  her  in  what  manner  Atlantes  had  deceived  Rogero, 
in  deluding  his  eyes  with  the  phantom  of  herself  in 
peril.  "Such,"  she  continued,  "will  be  his  arts  in 
your  own  case,  if  you  penetrate  the  forest  and  ap- 
proach that  castle.  You  will  think  you  behold  Rogero, 
when,  in  fact,  you  see  only  the  enchanter  himself. 
Be  not  deceived,  plunge  your  sword  into  his  body, 
and  trust  me  when  I  tell  you  that,  in  slaying  him, 
you  will  restore  not  only  Rogero,  but  with  him  many 
of  the  bravest  knights  of  France,  whom  the  wizard's 
arts  have  withdrawn  from  the  camp  of  their  sov- 
ereign." 

Bradamante  promptly  armed  herself,  and  mounted 
her  horse.  Melissa  led  her  by  forced  journeys,  by 
field  and  forest,  beguiling  the  way  with  conversation 
on  the  theme  which  interested  her  hearer  most.  When 
at  last  they  reached  the  forest,  she  repeated  once  more 
her  instructions,  and  then  took  her  leave,  for  fear  the 
enchanter  might  espy  her,  and  be  put  on  his  guard. 

Bradamante  rode  on  about  two  miles  when  suddenly 
she  beheld  Rogero,  as  it  appeared  to  her,  hard  pressed 
by  two  fierce  giants.  While  she  hesitated  she  heard 
his  voice  calling  on  her  for  help.  At  once  the  cau- 
tions of  Melissa  lost  their  weight.  A  sudden  doubt  of 
the  faith  and  truth  of  her  kind  monitress  flashed  across 
her  mind.  "Shall  I  not  believe  my  own  eyes  and 


104         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

ears  ? ' '  she  said,  and  rushed  forward  to  his  defence. 
Rogero  fled,  pursued  by  the  giants,  and  Bradamante 
followed,  passing  with  them  through  the  castle  gate. 
When  there,  Bradamante  was  undeceived,  for  neither 
giant  nor  knight  was  to  be  seen.  She  found  herself  a 
prisoner,  but  had  not  the  consolation  of  knowing  that 
she  shared  the  imprisonment  of  her  beloved.  She  saw 
various  forms  of  men  and  women,  but  could  recognize 
none  of  them  ;  and  their  lot  was  the  same  with  respect 
to  her.  Each  viewed  the  others  under  some  illusion 
of  the  fancy,  wearing  the  semblance  of  giants,  dwarfs, 
or  even  four-footed  animals,  so  that  there  was  no  com- 
panionship or  communication  between  them. 


ASTOLPHO'S  ADVENTURES  CONTINUED, 
AND    ISABELLA'S    BEGUN. 

WHEN  Astolpho  escaped  from  the  cruel  Alcina, 
after  a  short  abode  in  the  realm  of  the  virtuous  Loge- 
stilla,  he  desired  to  return  to  his  native  country. 
Logestilla  lent  him  the  best  vessel  of  her  fleet  to  con- 
vey him  to  the  mainland.  She  gave  him  at  parting  a 
wonderful  book,  which  taught  the  secret  of  overcom- 
ing all  manners  of  enchantments,  and  begged  him 
to  carry  it  always  with  him,  out  of  regard  for  her. 
She  also  gave  him  another  gift,  which  surpassed  every- 
thing of  the  kind  that  mortal  workmanship  can  frame  ; 
yet  it  was  nothing  in  appearance  but  a  simple  horn. 

Astolpho,  protected  by  these  gifts,  thanked  the  good 
fairy,  took  leave  of  her,  and  set  out  on  his  return  to 
France.  His  voyage  was  prosperous,  and  on  reaching 
the  desired  port  he  took  leave  of  the  faithful  mariners, 


ASTOLPHO'S   ADVENTURES.  105 

and  continued  his  journey  by  land.  As  he  proceeded 
over  mountains  and  through  valleys  he  often  met  with 
bands  of  robbers,  wild  beasts,  and  venomous  serpents, 
but  he  had  only  to  sound  his  horn  to  put  them  all  to 
flight. 

Having  landed  in  France,  and  traversed  many 
provinces  on  his  way  to  the  army,  he  one  day,  in 
crossing  a  forest,  arrived  beside  a  fountain,  and  alighted 
to  drink.  While  he  stooped  at  the  fountain  a  young 
rustic  sprang  from  the  copse,  mounted  Rabican,  and 
rode  away.  It  was  a  new  trick  of  the  enchanter 
Atlantes.  Astolpho,  hearing  the  noise,  turned  his 
head  just  in  time  to  see  his  loss  ;  and,  starting  up, 
pursued  the  thief,  who,  on  his  part,  did  not  press  the 
horse  to  his  full  speed,  but  just  kept  in  sight  of  his 
pursuer  till  they  both  issued  from  the  forest  ;  and  then 
Rabican  and  his  rider  took  shelter  in  a  castle  which 
stood  near.  Astolpho  followed,  and  penetrated  with- 
out difficulty  within  the  court-yard  of  the  castle,  where 
he  looked  around  for  the  rider  and  his  horse,  but 
could  see  no  trace  of  either,  nor  any  person  of  whom 
he  could  make  inquiry.  Suspecting  that  enchantment 
was  employed  to  embarrass  him,  he  bethought  him  of 
his  book,  and  on  consulting  it  discovered  that  his  sus- 
picions were  well  founded.  He  also  learned  what 
course  to  pursue.  He  was  directed  to  raise  the  stone 
which  served  as  a  threshold,  under  which  a  spirit  lay 
pent,  who  would  willingly  escape,  and  leave  the  castle 
free  of  access.  Astolpho  applied  his  strength  to  lift 
aside  the  stone.  Thereupon  the  magician  put  his  arts 
in  force.  The  castle  was  full  of  prisoners,  and  the 
magician  caused  that  to  all  of  them  Astolpho  should 
appear  in  some  false  guise  —  to  some  a  wild  beast,  to 
others  a  giant,  to  others  a  bird  of  prey.  Thus  all  as- 


106         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

sailed  him,  and  would  quickly  have  made  an  end  of 
him,  if  he  had  not  bethought  him  of  his  horn.  No 
sooner  had  he  blown  a  blast  than,  at  the  horrid  larum, 
fled  the  cavaliers  and  the  necromancer  with  them,  like 
a  flock  of  pigeons  at  the  sound  of  the  fowler's  gun. 
Astolpho  then  renewed  his  efforts  on  the  stone,  and 
turned  it  over.  The  under  face  was  all  inscribed  with 
magical  characters,  which  the  knight  defaced,  as 
directed  by  his  book  ;  and  no  sooner  had  he  done  so, 
than  the  castle,  with  its  walls  and  turrets,  vanished  into 
smoke. 

The  knights  and  ladies  set  at  liberty  were,  besides 
Rogero  and  Bradamante,  Orlando,  Gradasso,  Floris- 
mart,  and  many  more.  At  the  sound  of  the  horn 
they  fled,  one  and  all,  men  and  steeds,  except  Rabi- 
can,  which  Astolpho  secured,  in  spite  of  his  terror. 
As  soon  as  the  sound  had  ceased  Rogero  recognized 
Bradamante,  whom  he  had  daily  met  during  their 
imprisonment,  but  had  been  prevented  from  know- 
ing by  the  enchanter's  arts.  No  words  can  tell  the 
delight  with  which  they  recognized  each  other,  and 
recounted  mutually  all  that  had  happened  to  each 
since  they  were  parted.  Rogero  took  advantage  of  the 
opportunity  to  press  his  suit,  and  found  Bradamante 
as  propitious  as  he  could  wish,  were  it  not  for  a  single 
obstacle,  the  difference  of  their  faiths.  "  If  he  would 
obtain  her  in  marriage,"  she  said,  "  he  must  in  due 
form  demand  her  of  her  father,  Duke  Aymon,  and  must 
abandon  his  false  prophet,  and  become  a  Christian." 
The  latter  step  was  one  which  Rogero  had  for  some 
time  intended  taking,  for  reasons  of  his  own.  He 
therefore  gladly  accepted  the  terms,  and  proposed  that 
they  should  at  once  repair  to  the  abbey  of  Vallom- 
brosa,  whose  towers  were  visible  at  no  great  distance. 


ASTOLPHO'S   ADVENTURES.  107 

Thither  they  turned  their  horses'  heads,  and  we  will 
leave  them  to  find  their  way  without  our  company. 

I  know  not  if  my  readers  recollect  that  at  the 
moment  when  Rogero  had  just  delivered  Angelica 
from  the  voracious  Ore  that  scornful  beauty  placed 
her  ring  in  her  mouth,  and  vanished  out  of  sight.  At 
the  same  time  the  Hippogriff  shook  off  his  bridle, 
soared  away,  and  flew  to  rejoin  his  former  master, 
very  naturally  returning  to  his  accustomed  stable. 
Here  Astolpho  found  him,  to  his  very  great  delight. 
He  knew  the  animal's  powers,  having  seen  Rogero  ride 
him,  and  he  longed  to  fly  abroad  over  all  the  earth, 
and  see  various  nations  and  peoples  from  his  airy 
course.  He  had  heard  Logestilla's  directions  how  to 
guide  the  animal,  and  saw  her  fit  a  bridle  to  his  head. 
He  therefore  was  able,  out  of  all  the  bridles  he  found 
in  the  stable,  to  select  one  suitable,  and,  placing  Rabi- 
can's  saddle  on  the  HippogrifFs  back,  nothing  seemed 
to  prevent  his  immediate  departure.  Yet  before  he 
went  he  bethought  him  of  placing  Rabican  in  hands 
where  he  would  be  safe,  and  whence  he  might  recover 
him  in  time  of  need.  While  he  stood  deliberating 
where  he  should  find  a  messenger,  he  saw  Brada- 
mante  approach.  That  fair  warrior  had  been  parted 
from  Rogero  on  their  way  to  the  abbey  of  Vallom- 
brosa,  by  an  inopportune  adventure  which  had  called 
the  knight  away.  She  was  now  returning  to  Mont- 
alban,  having  arranged  with  Rogero  to  join  her  there. 
To  Bradamante,  therefore,  his  fair  cousin,  Astolpho 
committed  Rabican,  and  also  the  lance  of  gold,  which 
would  only  be  an  incumbrance  in  his  aerial  excursion. 
Bradamante  took  charge  of  both;  and  Astolpho,  bid- 
ding her  farewell,  soared  in  air. 


108  •      LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Among  those  delivered  by  Astolpho  from  the  magi- 
cian's castle  was  Orlando.  Following  the  guide  of 
chance,  the  paladin  found  himself  at  the  close  of  day 
in  a  forest,  and  stopped  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain. 
Surprised  to  discern  a  light  which  came  from  a  cleft 
in  the  rock,  he  approached,  guided  by  the  ray,  and 
discovered  a  narrow  passage  in  the  mountain-side, 
which  led  into  a  deep  grotto. 

Orlando  fastened  his  horse,  and  then,  putting  aside 
the  bushes  that  resisted  his  passage,  stepped  down  from 
rock  to  rock  till  he  reached  a  sort  of  cavern.  Enter- 
ing it,  he  perceived  a  lady,  young  and  handsome,  as 
well  as  he  could  discover  through  the  signs  of  distress 
which  agitated  her  countenance.  Her  only  companion 
\vas  an  old  woman,  who  seemed  to  be  regarded  by  her 
young  partner  with  terror  and  indignation.  The  cour- 
teous paladin  saluted  the  women  respectfully,  and 
begged  to  know  by  whose  barbarity  they  had  been 
subjected  to  such  imprisonment. 

The  younger  lady  replied,  in  a  voice  often  broken 
with  sobs  : 

"  Though  I  know  well  that  my  recital  will  subject 
me  to  worse  treatment  by  the  barbarous  man  who 
keeps  me  here,  to  whom  this  woman  will  not  fail  to 
report  it,  yet  I  will  not  hide  from  you  the  facts.  Ah  ! 
why  should  I  fear  his  rage  ?  If  he  should  take  my 
life,  I  know  not  what  better  boon  than  death  I  can 
ask. 

"  My  name  is  Isabella.  I  am  the  daughter  of  the 
king  of  Galicia,  or  rather  I  should  say  misfortune  and 
grief  are  my  parents.  Young,  rich,  modest,  and  of 
tranquil  temper,  all  things  appeared  to  combine  to  ren- 
der my  lot  happy.  Alas  !  I  see  myself  to-day  poor, 
humbled,  miserable,  and  destined  perhaps  to  yet  fur 


ASTOLPHO'S  ADVENTURES.     109 

ther  afflictions.  It  is  a  year  since,  my  father  having 
given  notice  that  he  would  open  the  lists  for  a  tourna- 
ment at  Bayonne,  a  great  number  of  chevaliers  from  all 
quarters  came  together  at  our  court.  Among  these 
Zerbino,  son  of  the  king  of  Scotland,  victorious  in  all 
combats,  eclipsed  by  his  beauty  and  his  valor  all  the 
rest.  Before  departing  from  the  court  of  Galicia  he 
testified  the  wish  to  espouse  me,  and  I  consented  that 
he  should  demand  my  hand  of  the  king,  my  father. 
But  I  was  a  Mahometan,  and  Zerbino  a  Christian, 
and  my  father  refused  his  consent.  The  prince,  called 
home  by  his  father  to  take  command  of  the  forces  des- 
tined to  the  assistance  of  the  French  Emperor,  prevailed 
on  me  to  be  married  to  him  secretly,  and  to  follow  him 
to  Scotland.  He  caused  a  galley  to  be  prepared  to  re- 
ceive me,  and  placed  in  command  of  it  the  chevalier 
Oderic,  a  Biscayan,  famous  for  his  exploits  both  by 
land  and  sea.  On  the  day  appointed,  Oderic  brought 
his  vessel  to  a  seaside  resort  of  my  father's,  where  I 
embarked.  Some  of  my  domestics  accompanied  me, 
and  thus  I  departed  from  my  native  land. 

"  Sailing  with  a  fair  wind,  after  some  hours  we  were 
assailed  by  a  violent  tempest.  It  was  to  no  purpose 
that  we  took  in  all  sail  ;  we  were  driven  before  the 
wind  directly  upon  the  rocky  shore.  Seeing  no  other 
hopes  of  safety,  Oderic  placed  me  in  a  boat,  followed 
himself  with  a  few  of  his  men,  and  made  for  land. 
We  reached  it  through  infinite  peril,  and  I  no  sooner  felt 
the  firm  land  beneath  my  feet,  than  I  knelt  down  and 
poured  out  heartfelt  thanks  to  the  Providence  that  had 
preserved  me. 

"The  shore  where  we  landed  appeared  to  be  unin- 
habited. We  saw  no  dwelling  to  shelter  us,  no  road 
to  lead  us  to  a  more  hospitable  spot.  A  high  mountain 


110         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

rose  before  us,  whose  base  stretched  into  the  sea.  It 
was  here  the  infamous  Oderic,  in  spite  of  my  tears  and 
entreaties,  sold  me  to  a  band  of  pirates,  who  fancied  I 
might  be  an  acceptable  present  to  their  prince,  the  Sul- 
tan of  Morocco.  This  cavern  is  their  den,  and  here 
they  keep  me  under  the  guard  of  this  woman,  until  it 
shall  suit  their  convenience  to  carry  me  away." 

Isabella  had  hardly  finished  her  recital  when  a  troop 
of  armed  men  began  to  enter  the  cavern.  Seeing  the 
prince  Orlando,  one  said  to  the  rest,  "  What  bird  is 
this  we  have  caught,  without  even  setting  a  snare  for 
him?"  Then  addressing  Orlando,  "It  was  truly 
civil  in  you,  friend,  to  come  hither  with  that  handsome 
coat  of  armor  and  vest,  the  very  things  I  want." 
"You  shall  pay  for  them,  then,"  said  Orlando  ;  and 
seizing  a  half-burnt  brand  from  the  fire,  he  hurled  it 
at  him,  striking  his  head,  and  stretching  him  lifeless  on 
the  floor. 

There  was  a  massy  table  in  the  middle  of  the  cavern, 
used  for  the  pirates'  repasts.  Orlando  lifted  it  and 
hurled  it  at  the  robbers  as  they  stood  clustered  in  a  group 
toward  the  entrance.  Half  the  gang  were  laid  pros- 
trate, with  broken  heads  and  limbs  ;  the  rest  got  away 
as  nimbly  as  they  could. 

Leaving  the  den  and  its  inmates  to  their  fate,  Or- 
lando, taking  Isabella  under  his  protection,  pursued  his 
way  for  some  days,  without  meeting  with  any  advent- 
ure. 

One  day  they  saw  a  band  of  men  advancing,  who 
seemed  to  be  guarding  a  prisoner,  bound  hand  and  foot, 
as  if  being  carried  to  execution.  The  prisoner  was  a 
youthful  cavalier,  of  a  noble  and  ingenuous  appearance. 
The  band  bore  the  ensigns  of  Count  Anselm,  head  of 
the  treacherous  house  of  Maganza.  Orlando  desired 


ASTOLPHO'S   ADVENTURES.  I  1  I 

Isabella  to  wait,  while  he  rode  forward  to  inquire  the 
meaning  of  this  array.  Approaching,  he  demanded  of 
the  leader  who  his  prisoner  was,  and  of  what  crime  he 
had  been  guilty.  The  man  replied  that  the  prisoner 
was  a  murderer,  by  whose  hand  Pinabel,  the  son  of 
Count  Anselm,  had  been  treacherously  slain.  At 
these  words  the  prisoner  exclaimed,  "  I  am  no  mur- 
derer, nor  have  I  been  in  any  way  the  cause  of  the 
young  man's  death."  Orlando,  knowing  the  cruel 
and  ferocious  character  of  the  chiefs  of  the  house  of 
Maganza,  needed  no  more  to  satisfy  him  that  the  youth 
was  the  victim  of  injustice.  He  commanded  the  leader 
of  the  troop  to  release  his  victim,  and,  receiving  an  in- 
solent reply,  dashed  him  to  the  earth  with  a  stroke  of 
his  lance  ;  then  by  a  few  vigorous  blows  dispersed  the 
band,  leaving  deadly  marks  on  those  who  were  slowest 
to  quit  the  field. 

Orlando  then  hastened  to  unbind  the  prisoner,  and 
to  assist  him  to  reclothe  himself  in  his  armor,  which 
the  false  Magencian  had  dared  to  assume.  He  then 
led  him  to  Isabella,  who  now  approached  the  scene  of 
action.  How  can  we  picture  the  joy,  the  astonish- 
ment, with  which  Isabella  recognized  in  him  Zerbino, 
her  husband,  and  the  prince  discovered  her  whom  he 
had  believed  overwhelmed  in  the  waves  !  They  em- 
braced one  another,  and  wept  for  joy.  Orlando,  shar- 
ing in  their  happiness,  congratulated  himself  in  having 
been  the  instrument  of  it.  The  princess  recounted  to 
Zerbino  what  the  illustrious  paladin  had  done  for  her, 
and  the  prince  threw  himself  at  Orlando's  feet,  and 
thanked  him  as  having  twice  preserved  his  life. 

While  these  exchanges  of  congratulation  and  thank- 
fulness were  going  on,  a  sound  in  the  underwood  at- 
tracted their  attention,  and  caused  the  two  knights  to 


112         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

brace  their  helmets  and  stand  on  their  guard.      What 
.  the  cause  of  the  interruption  was  we  shall  record  in 
another  chapter. 


MEDORO. 

FRANCE  was  at  this  time  the  theatre  of  dreadful 
events.  The  Saracens  and  the  Christians,  in  numer- 
ous encounters,  slew  one  another.  On  one  occasion 
Rinaldo  led  an  attack  on  the  infidel  columns,  broke  and 
scattered  them,  till  he  found  himself  opposite  to  a 
knight  whose  armor  (whether  by  accident  or  by 
choice,  it  matters  not)  bore  the  blazon  of  Orlando. 
It  was  Dardinel,  the  young  and  brave  prince  of  Zu- 
mara,  and  Rinaldo  remarked  him  by  the  slaughter  he 
spread  all  around.  "Ah,"  said  he  to  himself,  "let 
us  pluck  up  this  dangerous  plant  before  it  has  grown 
to  its  full  height." 

As  Rinaldo  advanced,  the  crowd  opened  before 
him,  the  Christians  to  let  his  sword  have  free  course, 
the  Pagans  to  escape  its  sweep.  Dardinel  and  he 
stood  face  to  face.  Rinaldo  exclaimed,  fiercely, 
"  Young  man,  whoever  gave  you  that  noble  buckler  to 
bear  made  you  a  dangerous  gift ;  I  should  like  to  see 
how  you  are  able  to  defend  those  quarterings,  red  and 
white.  It  you  cannot  defend  them  against  me,  how 
pray  will  you  do  so  when  Orlando  challenges  them  ?  " 
Dardinel  replied  :  "  Thou  shalt  learn  that  I  can  de- 
fend the  arms  I  bear,  and  shed  new  glory  upon  them. 
No  one  shall  rend  them  from  me  but  with  life."  Say- 
ing these  words,  Dardinel  rushed  upon  Rinaldo  with 
sword  uplifted. 


MEDORO.  113 

The  chill  of  mortal  terror  filled  the  souls  of  the 
Saracens  when  they  beheld  Rinaldo  advance  to  attack 
the  prince,  like  a  lion  against  a  young  bull.  The  first 
blow  came  from  the  hand  of  Dardinel,  and  the  weapon 
rebounded  from  Mambrino's  helmet  without  effect. 
Rinaldo  smiled,  and  said,  "  I  will  now  show  you  if 
my  strokes  are  more  effectual."  At  these  words  he 
thrust  the  unfortunate  Dardinel  in  the  middle  of  his 
breast.  The  blow  was  so  violent  that  the  cruel 
weapon  pierced  the  body,  and  came  out  a  palm- 
breadth  behind  his  back.  Through  this  wound  the 
life  of  Dardinel  issued  with  his  blood,  and  his  body 
fell  helpless  to  the  ground. 

As  a  flower  which  the  passing  plough  has  uprooted 
languishes,  and  droops  its  head,  so  Dardinel,  his  visage 
covered  with  the  paleness  of  death,  expires,  and  the 
hopes  of  an  illustrious  race  perish  with  him. 

Like  waters  kept  back  by  a  dike,  which,  when  the 
dike  is  broken,  spread  abroad  through  all  the  country, 
so  the  Moors,  no  longer  kept  in  column  by  the 
example  of  Dardinel,  fled  in  all  directions.  Rinaldo 
despised  too  much  such  easy  victories  to  pursue  them  ; 
he  wished  for  no  combats  but  with  brave  men.  At 
the  same  time,  the  other  paladins  made  terrible  slaugh- 
ter of  the  Moors.  Charles  himself,  Oliver,  Guido, 
and  Ogier  the  Dane,  carried  death  into  their  ranks  on 
all  sides. 

The  infidels  seemed  doomed  to  perish  to  a  man  on 
that  dreadful  day  ;  but  the  wise  king,  Marsilius,  at  last 
put  some  slight  degree  of  method  into  the  general 
rout.  He  collected  the  remnant  of  the  troops,  formed 
them  into  a  battalion,  and  retreated  in  tolerable  order 
to  his  camp.  That  camp  was  well  fortified  by  in- 
trenchments  and  a  broad  ditch.  Thither  the  fugitives 


114         LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

hastened,  and  by  degrees  all  that  remained  of  the 
Moorish  army  was  brought  together  there. 

The  Emperor  might  perhaps  that  night  have  crushed 
his  enemy  entirely  ;  but  not  thinking  it  prudent  to 
expose  his  troops,  fatigued  as  they  were,  to  an  attack 
upon  a  camp  so  well  fortified,  he  contented  himself 
with  encompassing  the  enemy  with  his  troops,  pre- 
pared to  make  a  regular  siege.  During  the  night  the 
Moors  had  time  to  see  the  extent  of  their  loss.  Their 
tents  resounded  with  lamentations.  This  warrior  had 
to  mourn  a  brother,  that  a  friend  ;  many  suffered  with 
grievous  wounds,  all  trembled  at  the  fate  in  store  for 
them. 

There  were  two  young  Moors,  both  of  humble  rank, 
who  gave  proof  at  that  time  of  attachment  and  fidelity 
rare  in  the  history  of  man.  Cloridan  and  Medoro 
had  followed  their  prince,  Dardinel,  to  the  wars  of 
France.  Cloridan,  a  bold  huntsman,  combined  strength 
with  activity.  Medoro  was  a  mere  youth,  his  cheeks 
yet  fair  and  blooming.  Of  all  the  Saracens,  no  one 
united  so  much  grace  and  beauty.  His  light  hair  was 
set  off  by  his  black  and  sparkling  eyes.  The  two 
friends  were  together  on  guard  at  the  rampart.  About 
midnight  they  gazed  on  the  scene  in  deep  dejection. 
Medoro,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  spoke  of  the  good 
prince  Dardinel,  and  could  not  endure  the  thought 
that  his  body  should  be  cast  out  on  the  plain,  deprived 
of  funeral  honors.  "  O  my  friend,"  said  he,  "  must 
then  the  body  of  our  prince  be  the  prey  of  wolves 
and  ravens  ?  Alas  !  when  I  remember  how  he  loved 
me,  I  feel  that  if  I  should  sacrifice  my  life  to  do  him 
honor,  I  should  not  do  more  than  my  duty.  I  wish, 
dear  friend,  to  seek  out  his  body  on  the  battlefield,  and 
give  it  burial,  and  I  hope  to  be  able  to  pass  through 


MEDORO.  115 

King  Charles's  camp  without  discovery,  as  they  are 
probably  all  asleep.  You,  Cloridan,  will  be  able  to 
say  for  me,  if  I  should  die  in  the  adventure,  that 
gratitude  and  fidelity  to  my  prince  were  my  induce- 
ments." 

Cloridan  was  both  surprised  and  touched  with  this 
proof  of  the  young  man's  devotion.  He  loved  him 
tenderly,  and  tried  for  a  long  time  every  effort  to  dis- 
suade him  from  his  design  ;  but  he  found  Medoro 
determined  to  accomplish  his  object  or  die  in  the 
endeavor. 

Cloridan,  unable  to  change  his  purpose,  said,  "  I 
will  go  with  you,  Medoro,  and  help  you  in  this  gener- 
ous enterprise.  I  value  not  life  compared  with  honor, 
and  if  I  did,  do  you  suppose,  dear  friend,  that  I  could 
live  without  you  ?  I  would  rather  fall  by  the  arms 
of  our  enemies  than  die  of  grief  for  the  loss  of  you. ' ' 

When  the  two  friends  were  relieved  from  their  guard 
duty  they  went  without  any  followers  into  the  camp 
of  the  Christians.  All  there  was  still  ;  the  fires  were 
dying  out  ;  there  was  no  fear  of  any  attempt  on  the 
part  of  the  Saracens,  and  the  soldiers,  overcome  by 
fatigue  or  wine,  slept  secure,  lying  upon  the  ground  in 
the  midst  of  their  arms  and  equipage.  Cloridan  stopped, 
and  said,  "  Medoro,  I  am  not  going  to  quit  this  camp 
without  taking  vengeance  for  the  death  of  our  prince. 
Keep  watch,  be  on  your  guard  that  no  one  shall  sur- 
prise us  ;  I  mean  to  mark  a  road  with  my  sword 
through  the  ranks  of  our  enemies."  So  saying,  he 
entered  the  tent  where  Alpheus  slept,  who  a  year 
before  had  joined  the  camp  of  Charles,  and  pretended 
to  be  a  great  physician  and  astrologer.  But  his  science 
had  deceived  him,  if  it  gave  him  hope  of  dying  peace- 
fully in  his  bed  at  a  good  old  age  ;  his  lot  was  to  die 


Il6         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

with  little  warning.  Cloridan  ran  his  sword  through 
his  heart.  A  Greek  and  a  German  followed,  who 
had  been  playing  late  at  dice  :  fortunate  if  they  had 
continued  their  game  a  little  longer  ;  but  they  never 
reckoned  a  throw  like  this  among  their  chances.  Clori- 
dan next  came  to  the  unlucky  Grillon,  whose  head  lay 
softly  on  his  pillow.  He  dreamed  probably  of  the 
feast  from  which  he  had  but  just  retired  ;  for  when 
Cloridan  cut  off  his  head  wine  flowed  forth  with  the 
blood. 

The  two  young  Moors  might  have  penetrated  even 
to  the  tent  of  Charlemagne  ;  but  knowing  that  the 
pakdins  encamped  around  him  kept  watch  by  turns, 
and  judging  that  it  was  impossible  they  should  all  be 
asleep,  they  were  afraid  to  go  too  near.  They  might 
also  have  obtained  rich  booty  ;  but,  intent  only  on 
their  object,  they  crossed  the  camp,  and  arrived  at 
length  at  the  bloody  field,  where  bucklers,  lances,  and 
swords  lay  scattered  in  the  midst  of  corpses  of  poor 
and  rich,  common  soldier  and  prince,  horses  and  pools 
of  blood.  This  terrible  scene  of  carnage  would  have 
destroyed  all  hope  of  finding  what  they  were  in  search 
of  until  dawn  of  day,  were  it  not  that  the  moon  lent 
the  aid  of  her  uncertain  rays. 

Medoro  raised  his  eyes  to  the  planet,  and  exclaimed, 
'« O  holy  goddess,  whom  our  fathers  have  adored 
under  three  different  forms,  —  thou  who  displayest  thy 
power  in  heaven,  on  earth,  and  in  the  under-world,  — 
thou  who  art  seen  foremost  among  the  nymphs  chasing 
the  beasts  of  the  forest,  —  cause  me  to  see,  I  implore 
thee,  the  spot  where  my  dear  master  lies,  and  make 
me  all  my  life  long  follow  the  example  which  thou 
dost  exhibit  of  works  of  charity  and  love." 

Either  by  accident,  or  that  the  moon  was  sensible 


MEDORO.  II? 

of  the  prayer  of  Medoro,  the  cloud  broke  away,  and 
the  moonlight  burst  forth  as  bright  as  day.  The  rays 
seemed  especially  to  gild  the  spot  where  lay  the  body 
of  Prince  Dardinel  ;  and  Medoro,  bathed  in  tears  and 
with  bleeding  heart,  recognized  him  by  the  quarterings 
of  red  and  white  on  his  shield. 

With  groans  stifled  by  his  tears,  and  lamentations 
in  accents  suppressed,  not  from  any  fear  for  himself, 
for  he  cared  not  for  life,  but  lest  any  one  should  be 
roused  to  interrupt  their  pious  duty  while  yet  incom- 
plete, he  proposed  to  his  companion  that  they  should 
together  bear  Dardinel  on  their  shoulders,  sharing  the 
burden  of  the  beloved  remains. 

Marching  with  rapid  strides  under  their  precious 
load,  they  perceived  that  the  stars  began  to  grow  pale, 
and  that  the  shades  of  night  would  soon  be  dispersed 
by  the  dawn.  Just  then  Zerbino,  whose  extreme 
valor  had  urged  him  far  from  the  camp  in  pursuit  of 
the  fugitives,  returning,  entered  the  wood  in  which 
they  were.  Some  knights  in  his  train  perceived  at  a 
distance  the  two  brothers-in-arms.  Cloridan  saw  the 
troop,  and,  observing  that  they  dispersed  themselves 
over  the  plain  as  if  in  search  of  booty,  told  Medoro 
to  lay  down  the  body,  and  let  each  save  himself  by 
flight.  He  dropped  his  part,  thinking  that  Medoro 
would  do  the  same  ;  but  the  good  youth  loved  his 
prince  too  well  to  abandon  him,  and  continued  to 
carry  his  load  singly  as  well  as  he  might,  while  Clori- 
dan made  his  escape.  Near  by  there  was  a  part  of 
the  wood  tufted  as  if  nothing  but  wild  animals  had 
ever  penetrated  it.  The  unfortunate  youth,  loaded 
with  the  weight  of  his  dead  master,  plunged  into  its 
recesses. 

Cloridan,   when  he  perceived   that  he   had  evaded 


Il8         LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

his  foes,  discovered  that  Medoro  was  not  with  him. 
"  Ah!  "  exclaimed  he,  "how  could  I,  dear  Medoro, 
so  forget  myself  as  to  consult  my  own  safety  without 
heeding  yours  ?  "  So  saying,  he  retraced  the  tangled 
passes  of  the  wood  toward  the  place  from  whence  he 
had  fled.  As  he  approached  he  heard  the  noise  of 
horses,  and  the  menacing  voices  of  armed  men.  Soon 
he  perceived  Medoro,  on  foot,  with  the  cavaliers  sur- 
rounding him.  Zerbino,  their  commander,  bade 
them  seize  him.  The  unhappy  Medoro  turned  now 
this  way,  now  that,  trying  to  conceal  himself  behind 
an  oak  or  a  rock,  still  bearing  the  body,  which  he 
would  by  no  means  leave.  Cloridan  not  knowing 
how  to  help  him,  but  resolved  to  perish  with  him,  if 
he  must  perish,  takes  an  arrow,  fits  it  to  his  bow,  dis- 
charges it,  and  pierces  the  breast  of  a  Christian 
knight,  who  falls  helpless  from  his  horse.  The  others 
look  this  way  and  that,  to  discover  whence  the  fatal 
bolt  was  sped.  One,  while  demanding  of  his  com- 
rades in  what  direction  the  arrow  came,  received  a 
second  in  his  throat,  which  stopped  his  words,  and 
soon  closed  his  eyes  to  the  scene. 

Zerbino,  furious  at  the  death  of  his  two  comrades, 
ran  upon  Medoro,  seized  his  golden  hair,  and  dragged 
him  forward  to  slay  him.  But  the  sight  of  so  much 
youth  and  beauty  commanded  pity.  He  stayed  his 
arm.  The  young  man  spoke  in  suppliant  tones.  "  Ah  ! 
signer,"  said  he,  "  I  conjure  you  by  the  God  whom 
you  serve,  deprive  me  not  of  life  until  I  shall  have 
buried  the  body  of  the  prince,  my  master.  Fear  not 
that  I  will  ask  you  any  other  favor  ;  life  is  not  dear  to 
me  ;  I  desire  death  as  soon  as  I  shall  have  performed 
this  sacred  duty.  Do  with  me  then  as  you  please. 
Give  my  limbs  a  prey  to  the  birds  and  beasts  ;  only 


MEDORO.  119 

let  me  first  bury  my  prince."  Medoro  pronounced 
these  words  with  an  air  so  sweet  and  tender  that  a 
heart  of  stone  would  have  been  moved  by  them. 
Zerbino  was  so  to  the  bottom  of  his  soul.  He  was 
on  the  point  of  uttering  words  of  mercy,  when  a 
cruel  subaltern,  forgetting  all  respect  to  his  commander, 
plunged  his  lance  into  the  breast  of  the  young  Moor. 
Zerbino,  enraged  at  his  brutality,  turned  upon  the 
wretch  to  take  vengeance,  but  he  saved  himself  by  a 
precipitate  flight. 

Cloridan,  who  saw  Medoro  fall,  could  contain  him- 
self no  longer.  He  rushed  from  his  concealment, 
threw  down  his  bow,  and,  sword  in  hand,  seemed 
only  desirous  of  vengeance  for  Medoro,  and  to  die 
with  him.  In  a  moment,  pierced  through  and  through 
with  many  wounds,  he  exerts  the  last  remnant  of  his 
strength  in  dragging  himself  to  Medoro,  to  die  em- 
bracing him.  The  cavaliers  left  them  thus  to  rejoin 
Zerbino,  whose  rage  against  the  murderer  of  Medoro 
had  drawn  him  away  from  the  spot. 

Cloridan  died  ;  and  Medoro,  bleeding  copiously, 
was  drawing  near  his  end  when  help  arrived. 

A  young  maiden  approached  the  fallen  knights  at  this 
critical  moment.  Her  dress  was  that  of  a  peasant- 
girl,  but  her  air  was  noble,  and  her  beauty  celestial ; 
sweetness  and  goodness  reigned  in  her  lovely  counte- 
nance. It  was  no  other  than  Angelica,  the  Princess 
of  Cathay. 

When  she  had  recovered  that  precious  ring,  as  we 
have  before  related,  Angelica,  knowing  its  value,  felt 
proud  in  the  power  it  conferred,  travelled  alone  with- 
out fear,  not  without  a  secret  shame  that  she  had  ever 
been  obliged  to  seek  protection  in  her  wanderings  of 
the  Count  Orlando  and  of  Sacripant.  She  reproached 


120         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

herself  too  as  with  a  weakness  that  she  had  ever 
thought  of  marrying  Rinaldo  ;  in  fine,  her  pride  grew 
so  high  as  to  persuade  her  that  no  man  living  was 
worthy  to  aspire  to  her  hand. 

Moved  with  pity  at  the  sight  of  the  young  man 
wounded,  and  melted  to  tears  at  hearing  the  cause,  she 
quickly  recalled  to  remembrance  the  knowledge  she  had 
acquired  in  India)  where  the  virtues  of  plants  and  the 
art  of  healing  formed  part  of  the  education  even  of 
princesses.  The  beautiful  queen  ran  into  the  adjoin- 
ing meadow  to  gather  plants  of  virtue  to  staunch  the 
flow  of  blood.  Meeting  on  her  way  a  countryman  on 
horseback  seeking  a  strayed  heifer,  she  begged  him  to 
come  to  her  assistance,  and  endeavor  to  remove  the 
wounded  man  to  a  more  secure  asylum. 

Angelica,  having  prepared  the  plants  by  bruising 
them  between  two  stones,  laid  them  with  her  fair 
hand  on  Medoro's  wound.  The  remedy  soon  restored 
in  some  degree  the  strength  of  the  wounded  man, 
who,  before  he  would  quit  the  spot,  made  them  cover 
with  earth  and  turf  the  bodies  of  his  friend  and  of 
the  prince.  Then  surrendering  himself  to  the  pity  of 
his  deliverers,  he  allowed  them  to  place  him  on  the 
horse  of  the  shepherd,  and  conduct  him  to  his  cottage. 
It  was  a  pleasant  farm-house  on  the  borders  of  the 
wood,  bearing  marks  of  comfort  and  competency. 
There  the  shepherd  lived  with  his  wife  and  children. 
There  Angelica  tended  Medoro,  and  there,  by  the 
devoted  care  of  the  beautiful  queen,  his  sad  wound 
closed  over,  and  he  recovered  his  perfect  health. 

O  Count  Rinaldo,  O  King  Sacripant  !  what  availed 
it  you  to  possess  so  many  virtues  and  such  fame  ? 
What  advantage  have  you  derived  from  all  your  high 
deserts  ?  O  hapless  king,  great  Agrican  !  if  you  could 


ORLANDO    MAD.  121 

return  to  life,  how  would  you  endure  to  see  your- 
self rejected  by  one  who  will  bow  to  the  yoke  of 
Hymen  in  favor  of  a  young  soldier  of  humble  birth  ? 
And  thou,  Ferrau,  and  ye  numerous  others  who  a 
hundred  times  have  put  your  lives  at  hazard  for  this 
cruel  beauty,  how  bitter  will  it  be  to  you  to  see  her 
sacrifice  you  all  to  the  claims  of  the  humble  Medoro  ! 

There,  under  the  low  roof  of  a  shepherd,  the  flame 
of  Hymen  was  lighted  for  this  haughty  queen.  She 
takes  the  shepherd's  wife  to  serve  in  place  of  mother, 
the  shepherd  and  his  children  for  witnesses,  and  mar- 
ries the  happy  Medoro. 

Angelica,  after  her  marriage,  wishing  to  endow 
Medoro  with  the  sovereignty  of  the  countries  which 
yet  remained  to  her,  took  with  him  the  road  to  the 
East.  She  had  preserved  through  all  her  adventures 
a  bracelet  of  gold  enriched  with  precious  stones,  the 
present  of  the  Count  Orlando.  Having  nothing  else 
wherewith  to  reward  the  good  shepherd  and  his  wife, 
who  had  served  her  with  so  much  care  and  fidelity, 
she  took  the  bracelet  from  her  arm  and  gave  it  to 
them,  and  then  the  newly-married  couple  directed 
their  steps  toward  those  mountains  which  separate 
France  and  Spain,  intending  to  wait  at  Barcelona  a  ves- 
sel which  should  take  them  on  their  way  to  the  East. 


ORLANDO   MAD. 

ORLANDO,  on  the  loss  of  Angelica,  laid  aside  his 
crest  and  arms,  and  arrayed  himself  in  a  suit  of  black 
armor  expressive  of  his  despair.  In  this  guise  he  car- 
ried such  slaughter  among  the  ranks  of  the  infidels  that 


122         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

both  armies  were  astonished  at  the  achievements  of 
the  stranger  knight.  Mandricardo,  who  had  been 
absent  from  the  battle,  heard  the  report  of  these 
achievements,  and  determined  to  test  for  himself  the 
valor  of  the  knight  so  extolled.  He  it  was  who  broke 
in  upon  the  conference  of  Zerbino  and  Isabella,  and 
their  benefactor  Orlando,  as  they  stood  occupied  in 
mutual  felicitations,  after  the  happy  reunion  of  the 
lovers  by  the  prowess  of  the  paladin. 

Mandricardo,  after  contemplating  the  group  for  a 
moment,  addressed  himself  to  Orlando  in  these  words  : 
"  Thou  must  be  the  man  I  seek.  For  ten  days  and 
more  I  have  been  on  thy  track.  The  fame  of  thy 
exploits  has  brought  me  hither,  that  I  may  measure 
my  strength  with  thine.  Thy  crest  and  shield  prove 
thee  the  same  who  spread  such  slaughter  among  our 
troops.  But  these  marks  are  superfluous,  and  if  I  saw 
thee  among  a  hundred  I  should  know  thee  by  thy 
martial  bearing  to  be  the  man  I  seek." 

"I  respect  thy  courage,"  said  Orlando;  "such  a 
design  could  not  have  sprung  up  in  any  but  a  brave 
and  generous  soul.  If  the  desire  to  see  me  has 
brought  thee  hither,  I  would,  if  it  were  possible,  show 
thee  my  inmost  soul.  I  will  remove  my  visor,  that 
you  may  satisfy  your  curiosity  ;  but  when  you  have 
done  so  I  hope  that  you  will  also  try  and  see  if  my 
valor  corresponds  to  my  appearance." 

"  Come  on,"  said  the  Saracen,  "my  first  wish  was 
to  see  and  know  thee  ;  I  will  now  gratify  my  second." 

Orlando,  observing  Mandricardo,  was  surprised  to 
see  no  sword  at  his  side,  nor  mace  at  his  saddle-bow. 
"And  what  weapon  hast  thou,"  said  he,  "if  thy 
lance  fail  thee  ?  ' ' 

"Do  not  concern  yourself  about  that,"  said  Man- 


ORLANDO    MAD.  123 

dricardo ;  "I  have  made  many  good  knights  give 
ground  with  no  other  weapon  than  you  see.  Know 
that  I  have  sworn  an  oath  never  to  bear  a  sword  until 
I  win  back  that  famous  Durindana  that  Orlando,  the 
paladin,  carries.  That  sword  belongs  to  the  suit  of 
armor  which  I  wear  ;  that  only  is  wanting.  With- 
out doubt  it  was  stolen,  but  how  it  got  into  the  hands 
of  Orlando  I  know  not.  But  I  will  make  him  pay 
dearly  for  it  when  I  find  him.  I  seek  him  the  more 
anxiously  that  I  may  avenge  with  his  blood  the  death 
of  King  Agrican,  my  father,  whom  he  treacherously 
slew.  I  am  sure  he  must  have  done  it  by  treachery, 
for  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  subdue  in  fair  fight  such 
a  warrior  as  my  father." 

"  Thou  liest,"  cried  Orlando;  "and  all  who  say 
so  lie.  I  am  Orlando,  whom  you  seek  ;  yes,  I  am 
he  who  slew  your  father  honorably.  Hold,  here  is 
the  sword  :  you  shall  have  it  if  your  courage  avails  to 
merit  it.  Though  it  belongs  to  me  by  right,  I  will 
not  use  it  in  this  dispute.  See,  I  hang  it  on  this  tree  ; 
you  shall  be  master  of  it,  if  you  bereave  me  of  life  ; 
not  else." 

At  these  words  Orlando  drew  Durindana,  and  hung 
it  on  one  of  the  branches  of  a  tree  near  by. 

Both  knights,  boiling  with  equal  ardor,  rode  off"  in 
a  semicircle  ;  then  rushed  together  with  reins  thrown 
loose,  and  struck  one  another  with  their  lances.  Both 
kept  their  seats,  immovable.  The  splinters  of  their 
lances  flew  into  the  air,  and  no  weapon  remained  for 
either  but  the  fragment  which  he  held  in  his  hand. 
Then  those  two  knights,  covered  with  iron  mail,  were 
reduced  to  the  necessity  of  fighting  with  staves,  in  the 
manner  of  two  rustics,  who  dispute  the  boundary  of  a 
meadow,  or  the  possession  of  a  spring. 


124         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

These  clubs  could  not  long  keep  whole  in  the  hands 
of  such  sturdy  smiters,  who  were  soon  reduced  to  fight 
with  naked  fists.  Such  warfare  was  more  painful  to 
him  that  gave  than  to  him  that  received  the  blows. 
They  next  clasped,  and  strained  each  his  adversary,  as 
Hercules  did  Antaeus.  Mandricardo,  more  enraged 
than  Orlando,  made  violent  efforts  to  unseat  the  pala- 
din, and  dropped  the  rein  of  his  horse.  Orlando, 
more  calm,  perceived  it.  With  one  hand  he  resisted 
Mandricardo,  with  the  other  he  twitched  the  horse's 
bridle  over  the  ears  of  the  animal.  The  Saracen 
dragged  Orlando  with  all  his  might,  but  Orlando's 
thighs  held  the  saddle  like  a  vise.  At  last  the  efforts 
of  the  Saracen  broke  the  girths  of  Orlando's  horse  ; 
the  saddle  slipped  ;  the  knight,  firm  in  his  stirrups, 
slipped  with  it,  and  came  to  the  ground  hardly  con- 
scious of  his  fall.  The  noise  of  his  armor  in  falling 
startled  Mandricardo' s  horse,  now  without  a  bridle. 
He  started  off  in  full  career,  heeding  neither  trees 
nor  rocks  nor  broken  ground.  Urged  by  fright,  he 
ran  with  furious  speed,  carrying  his  master,  who, 
almost  distracted  with  rage,  shouted  and  beat  the  ani- 
mal with  his  fists,  and  thereby  impelled  his  flight. 
After  running  thus  three  miles  or  more,  a  deep  ditch 
opposed  their  progress.  The  horse  and  rider  fell  head- 
long into  it,  and  did  not  find  the  bottom  covered  with 
feather-beds  or  roses.  They  got  sadly  bruised  ;  but 
were  lucky  enough  to  escape  without  any  broken  limbs. 
Mandricardo,  as  soon  as  he  gained  his  feet,  seized 
the  horse  by  his  mane  with  fury,  but,  having  no 
bridle,  could  not  hold  him.  He  looked  round  in 
hopes  of  finding  something  that  would  do  for  a  rein. 
Just  then  fortune,  who  seemed  willing  to  help  him  at 
last,  brought  that  way  a  peasant  with  a  bridle  in  his 


ORLANDO    MAD.  125 

hand,  who  was  in  search  of  his  farm  horse  that  had 
strayed  away. 

Orlando,  having  speedily  repaired  his  horse's  girths, 
remounted,  and  waited  a  good  hour  for  the  Saracen 
to  return.  Not  seeing  him,  he  concluded  to  go  in 
search  of  him.  He  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  Zer- 
bino  and  Isabella,  who  would  willingly  have  followed 
him  ;  but  this  the  brave  paladin  would  by  no  means 
permit.  He  held  it  unknightly  to  go  in  search  of  an 
enemy  accompanied  by  a  friend,  who  might  act  as  a 
defender.  Therefore,  desiring  them  to  say  to  Man- 
dricardo,  if  they  should  meet  him,  that  his  purpose 
was  to  tarry  in  the  neighborhood  three  days,  and  then 
repair  to  the  camp  of  Charlemagne,  he  took  down 
Durindana  from  the  tree,  and  proceeded  in  the  direc- 
tion which  the  Saracen's  horse  had  taken.  But  the 
animal,  having  no  guide  but  its  terror,  had  so  doubled 
and  confused  its  traces  that  Orlando,  after  two  days 
spent  in  the  search,  gave  up  the  attempt. 

It  was  about  the  middle  of  the  third  day  when  the 
paladin  arrived  on  the  pleasant  bank  of  a  stream 
which  wound  through  a  meadow  enamelled  with 
flowers.  High  trees,  whose  tops  met  and  formed  an 
arbor,  overshadowed  the  fountain  ;  and  the  breeze 
which  blew  through  their  foliage  tempered  the  heat. 
Hither  the  shepherds  used  to  resort  to  quench  their 
thirst,  and  to  enjoy  the  shelter  from  the  midday  sun. 
The  air,  perfumed  with  the  flowers,  seemed  to  breathe 
fresh  strength  into  their  veins.  Orlando  felt  the  in- 
fluence, though  covered  with  his  armor.  He  stopped 
in  this  delicious  arbor,  where  everything  seemed  to 
invite  to  repose.  But  he  could  not  have  chosen  a  more 
fatal  asylum.  He  there  spent  the  most  miserable 
moments  of  his  life. 


126         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

He  looked  around,  and  noted  with  pleasure  all  the 
charms  of  the  spot.  He  saw  that  some  of  the  trees 
were  carved  with  inscriptions  —  he  drew  near,  and 
read  them,  and  what  was  his  surprise  to  find  that  they 
composed  the  name  of  Angelica  !  Farther  on  he 
found  the  name  of  Medoro  mixed  with  hers.  The 
paladin  thought  he  dreamed.  He  stood  like  one 
amazed  —  like  a  bird  that,  rising  to  fly,  finds  its  feet 
caught  in  a  net. 

Orlando  followed  the  course  of  the  stream,  and 
came  to  one  of  its  turns  where  the  rocks  of  the  moun- 
tain bent  in  such  a  way  as  to  form  a  sort  of  grotto. 
The  twisted  stems  of  ivy  and  the  wild  vine  draped 
the  entrance  of  this  recess,  scooped  by  the  hand  of 
nature. 

The  unhappy  paladin,  on  entering  the  grotto,  saw 
letters  which  appeared  to  have  been  lately  carved. 
They  were  verses  which  Medoro  had  written  in  honor 
of  his  happy  nuptials  with  the  beautiful  queen.  Or- 
lando tried  to  persuade  himself  it  must  be  some  other 
Angelica  whom  those  verses  celebrated,  and  as  for 
Medoro,  he  had  never  heard  his  name.  The  sun  was 
now  declining,  and  Orlando  remounted  his  horse,  and 
went  on  his  way.  He  soon  saw  the  roof  of  a  cot- 
tage whence  the  smoke  ascended  ;  he  heard  the  barking 
of  dogs  and  the  lowing  of  cattle,  and  arrived  at  a 
humble  dwelling  which  seemed  to  offer  an  asylum  for 
the  night.  The  inmates,  as  soon  as  they  saw  him, 
hastened  to  render  him  service.  One  took  his  horse, 
another  his  shield  and  cuirass,  another  his  golden  spurs. 
This  cottage  was  the  very  same  where  Medoro  had 
been  carried,  deeply  wounded,  —  where  Angelica  had 
tended  him,  and  afterwards  married  him.  The  shep- 
herd who  lived  in  it  loved  to  tell  everybody  the  story 


ORLANDO    MAD.  127 

of  this  marriage,  and  soon  related  it,  with  all  its 
details,  to  the  miserable  Orlando. 

Having  finished  it,  he  went  away,  and  returned 
with  the  precious  bracelet  which  Angelica,  grateful  for 
his  services,  had  given  him  as  a  memorial.  It  was  the 
one  which  Orlando  had  himself  given  her. 

This  last  touch  was  the  finishing  stroke  to  the 
excited  paladin.  Frantic,  exasperated,  he  exclaimed 
against  the  ungrateful  and  cruel  princess  who  had  dis- 
dained him,  the  most  renowned,  the  most  indomitable 
of  all  the  paladins  of  France,  —  him,  who  had  rescued 
her  from  the  most  alarming  perils,  —  him,  who  had 
fought  the  most  terrible  battles  for  her  sake,  —  she  to 
prefer  to  him  a  young  Saracen  !  The  pride  of  the 
noble  Count  was  deeply  wounded.  Indignant,  frantic, 
a  victim  to  ungovernable  rage,  he  rushed  into  the 
forest,  uttering  the  most  frightful  shrieks. 

"No,  no  !  "  cried  he,  "I  am  not  the  man  they 
take  me  for  !  Orlando  is  dead  !  I  am  only  the 
wandering  ghost  of  that  unhappy  Count,  who  is  now 
suffering  the  torments  of  hell  !  " 

Orlando  wandered  all  night,  as  chance  directed, 
through  the  wood,  and  at  sunrise  his  destiny  led  him 
to  the  fountain  where  Medoro  had  engraved  the  fatal 
inscription.  The  frantic  paladin  saw  it  a  second  time 
with  fury,  drew  his  sword,  and  hacked  it  from  the 
rock. 

Unlucky  grotto  !  you  shall  no  more  attract  by  your 
shade  and  coolness,  you  shall  no  more  shelter  with 
your  arch  either  shepherd  or  flock.  And  you,  fresh 
and  pure  fountain,  you  may  not  escape  the  rage  of 
the  furious  Orlando  !  He  cast  into  the  fountain 
branches,  trunks  of  trees  which  he  tore  up,  pieces  of 
rocks  which  he  broke  off,  plants  uprooted,  with  the 


128         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

earth  adhering,  and  turf  and  bushes,  so  as  to  choke 
the  fountain,  and  destroy  the  purity  of  its  waters. 
At  length,  exhausted  by  his  violent  exertions,  bathed 
in  sweat,  breathless,  Orlando  sunk  panting  upon  the 
earth,  and  lay  there  insensible  three  days  and  three 
nights. 

The  fourth  day  he  started  up  and  seized  his  arms. 
His  helmet,  his  buckler,  he  cast  far  from  him  ;  his 
hauberk  and  his  clothes  he  rent  asunder  ;  {he  frag- 
ments were  scattered  through  the  wood.  In  fine,  he 
became  a  furious  madman.  His  insanity  was  such 
that  he  cared  not  to  retain  even  his  sword.  But  he 
had  no  need  of  Durindana,  nor  of  other  arms,  to  do 
wonderful  things.  His  prodigious  strength  sufficed. 
At  the  first  wrench  of  his  mighty  arm  he  tore  up  a 
pine-tree  by  the  roots.  Oaks,  beeches,  maples,  what- 
ever he  met  in  his  path,  yielded  in  like  manner. 
The  ancient  forest  soon  became  as  bare  as  the  borders 
of  a  morass,  where  the  fowler  has  cleared  away  the 
bushes  to  spread  his  nets.  The  shepherds,  hearing 
the  horrible  crashing  in  the  forest,  abandoned  their 
flocks  to  run  and  see  the  cause  of  this  unwonted  up- 
roar. By  their  evil  star,  or  for  their  sins,  they  were 
led  thither.  When  they  saw  the  furious  state  the 
Count  was  in,  and  his  incredible  force,  they  would 
fain  have  fled  out  of  his  reach,  but  in  their  fears  lost 
their  presence  of  mind.  The  madman  pursued  them, 
seized  one  and  rent  him  limb  from  limb,  as  easily  as 
one  would  pull  ripe  apples  from  a  tree.  He  took 
another  by  the  feet,  and  used  him  as  a  club  to  knock 
down  a  third.  The  shepherds  fled ;  but  it  would 
have  been  hard  for  any  to  escape,  if  he  had  not  at  that 
moment  left  them  to  throw  himself  with  the  same  fury 
upon  their  flocks.  The  peasants,  abandoning  their 


ORLANDO    MAD.  129 

ploughs  and  harrows,  mounted  on  the  roofs  of  build- 
ings and  pinnacles  of  the  rocks,  afraid  to  trust  them- 
selves even  to  the  oaks  and  pines.  From  such  heights 
they  looked  on,  trembling  at  the  raging  fury  of  the 
unhappy  Orlando.  His  fists,  his  teeth,  his  nails, 
his  feet,  seize,  break,  and  tear  cattle,  sheep,  and 
swine  ;  the  most  swift  in  flight  alone  being  able  to 
escape  him. 

When  at  last  terror  had  scattered  everything  before 
him,  he  entered  a  cottage  which  was  abandoned  by 
its  inhabitants,  and  there  found  that  which  served  for 
food.  His  long  fast  had  caused  him  to  feel  the  most 
ravenous  hunger.  Seizing  whatever  he  found  that  was 
eatable,  whether  roots,  acorns,  or  bread,  raw  meat  or 
cooked,  he  gorged  it  indiscriminately. 

Issuing  thence  again,  the  frantic  Orlando  gave 
chase  to  whatever  living  thing  he  saw,  whether  men 
or  animals.  Sometimes  he  pursued  the  deer  and  hind, 
sometimes  he  attacked  bears  and  wolves,  and  with  his 
naked  hands  killed  and  tore  them,  and  devoured  their 
flesh. 

Thus  he  wandered,  from  place  to  place,  through 
France,*  imperilling  his  life  a  thousand  ways,  yet 
always  preserved  by  some  mysterious  providence  from 
a  fatal  result.  But  here  we  leave  Orlando  for  a  time, 
that  we  may  record  what  befell  Zerbino  and  Isabella 
after  their  parting  with  him. 

The  prince  and  his  fair  bride  waited,  by  Orlando's 
request,  near  the  scene  of  the  battle  for  three  days, 
that,  if  Mandricardo  should  return,  they  might  inform 
him  where  Orlando  would  give  him  another  meeting. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  their  anxiety  to  know  the 
issue  led  them  to  follow  Orlando's  traces,  which  led 
them  at  last  to  the  wood  where  the  trees  were  in- 


130         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

scribed  with  the  names  of  Angelica  and  Medoro. 
They  remarked  how  all  these  inscriptions  were  de- 
faced, and  how  the  grotto  was  disordered,  and  the 
fountain  clogged  with  rubbish.  But  that  which  sur- 
prised them  and  distressed  them  most  of  all  was  to 
find  on  the  grass  the  cuirass  of  Orlando,  and  not  far 
from  it  his  helmet,  the  same  which  the  renowned  Al- 
montes once  wore. 

Hearing  a  horse  neigh  in  the  forest,  Zerbino  turned 
his  eyes  in  that  direction,  and  saw  Brigliadoro,  with 
the  bridle  yet  hanging  at  the  saddle-bow.  He  looked 
round  for  Durindana,  and  found  that  famous  sword, 
without  the  scabbard,  lying  on  the  grass.  He  saw 
also  the  fragments  of  Orlando's  other  arms  and  cloth- 
ing scattered  on  all  sides  over  the  plain. 

Zerbino  and  Isabella  stood  in  astonishment  and 
grief,  not  knowing  what  to  think,  but  little  imagining 
the  true  cause.  If  they  had  found  any  marks  of  blood 
on  the  arms  or  on  the  fragments  of  the  clothing,  they 
would  have  supposed  him  slain,  but  there  were  none. 
While  they  were  in  this  painful  uncertainty  they  saw 
a  young  peasant  approach.  He,  not  yet  recovered 
from  the  terror  of  the  scene,  which  he  had  witnessed 
from  the  top  of  a  rock,  told  them  the  whole  of  the  sad 
events. 

Zerbino,  with  his  eyes  full  of  tears,  carefully  col- 
lected all  the  scattered  arms.  Isabella  also  dismounted 
to  aid  him  in  the  sad  duty.  When  they  had  collected 
all  the  pieces  of  that  rich  armor  they  hung  them  like 
a  trophy  on  a  pine ;  and  to  prevent  their  being  vio- 
lated by  any  passers-by,  Zerbino  inscribed  on  the  bark 
this  caution  :  "  These  are  the  arms  of  the  Paladin 
Orlando." 

Having  finished  this  pious  work,  he  remounted  his 


ZERBINO   AND    ISABELLA.  1^1 

horse,  and  just  then  a  knight  rode  up,  and  requested 
Zerbino  to  tell  him  the  meaning  of  the  trophy.  The 
prince  related  the  facts  as  they  had  happened  ;  and 
Mandricardo,  for  it  was  that  Saracen  knight,  full  of  joy, 
rushed  forward,  and  seized  the  sword,  saying,  "  No 
one  can  censure  me  for  what  I  do  ;  this  sword  is  mine  ; 
I  can  take  my  own  wherever  I  find  it.  It  is  plain 
that  Orlando,  not  daring  to  defend  it  against  me,  has 
counterfeited  madness  to  excuse  him  in  surrendering 
it." 

Zerbino  vehemently  exclaimed,  "  Touch  not  that 
sword.  Think  not  to  possess  it  without  a  contest.  If 
it  be  true  that  the  arms  you  wear  are  those  of  Hector, 
you  must  have  got  them  by  theft,  and  not  by 
prowess." 

Immediately  they  attacked  one  another  with  the 
utmost  fury.  The  air  resounded  with  thick-falling 
blows.  Zerbino,  skilful  and  alert,  evaded  for  a  time 
with  good  success  the  strokes  of  Durindana  ;  but  at 
length  a  terrible  blow  struck  him  on  the  neck.  He 
fell  from  his  horse,  and  the  Tartar  king,  possessed 
of  the  spoils  of  his  victory,  rode  away. 


ZERBINO  AND  ISABELLA. 

ZERBINO' s  pain  at  seeing  the  Tartar  prince  go  off 
with  the  sword  surpassed  the  anguish  of  his  wound  ; 
but  now  the  loss  of  blood  so  reduced  his  strength  that 
he  could  not  move  from  where  he  fell.  Isabella,  not 
knowing  whither  to  resort  for  help,  could  only  bemoan 
him,  and  chide  her  cruel  fate.  Zerbino  said,  "  If  I 
could  but  leave  thee,  my  best  beloved,  in  some  secure 


132        LEGENDS   OF  CHARLEMAGNE. 

abode,  it  would  not  distress  me  to  die  ;  but  to  abandon 
thee  so,  without  protection,  is  sad  indeed."  She  re- 
plied, "Think  not  to  leave  me,  dearest;  our  souls 
shall  not  be  parted  ;  this  sword  will  give  me  the  means 
to  follow  thee."  Zerbino's  last  words  implored  her 
to  banish  such  a  thought,  but  live,  and  be  true  to  his 
memory.  Isabella  promised,  with  many  tears,  to  be 
faithful  to  him  so  long  as  life  should  last. 

When  he  ceased  to  breathe,  Isabella's  cries  re- 
sounded through  the  forest,  and  reached  the  ears  of 
a  reverend  hermit,  who  hastened  to  the  spot.  He 
soothed  and  calmed  her,  urging  those  consolations 
which  the  word  of  God  supplies  ;  and  at  last  brought 
her  to  wish  for  nothing  else  but  to  devote  herself  for 
the  rest  of  life  wholly  to  religion. 

As  she  could  not  bear  the  thoughts  of  leaving  her 
dead  lord  abandoned,  the  body  was,  by  the  good  her- 
mit's aid,  placed  upon  the  horse,  and  taken  to  the 
nearest  inhabited  place,  where  a  chest  was  made  for 
it,  suitable  to  be  carried  with  them  on  their  way. 
The  hermit's  plan  was  to  escort  his  charge  to  a  monas- 
tery, not  many  days'  journey  distant,  where  Isabella 
resolved  to  spend  the  remainder  of  her  days.  Thus 
they  travelled  day  after  day,  choosing  the  most  retired 
ways,  for  the  country  was  full  of  armed  men.  One 
day  a  cavalier  met  them,  and  barred  their  way.  It 
was  no  other  than  Rodomont,  king  of  Algiers,  who 
had  just  left  the  camp  of  Agramant,  full  of  indignation 
at  the  treatment  he  had  received  from  Doralice.  At 
sight  of  the  lovely  lady  and  her  reverend  attendant, 
with  their  horse  laden  with  a  burden  draped  with  black, 
he  asked  the  meaning  of  their  journey.  Isabella  told 
him  her  affliction,  and  her  resolution  to  renounce  the 
world  and  devote  herself  to  religion,  and  to  the  mem- 


ZERBINO   AND    ISABELLA.  133 

ory  of  the  friend  she  had  lost.  Rodomont  laughed 
scornfully  at  this,  and  told  her  that  her  project  was 
absurd  ;  that  charms  like  hers  were  meant  to  be  en- 
joyed, not  buried,  and  that  he  himself  would  more 
than  make  amends  for  her  dead  lover.  The  monk, 
who  promptly  interposed  to  rebuke  this  impious  talk, 
was  commanded  to  hold  his  peace  ;  and  still  persisting, 
was  seized  by  the  knight  and  hurled  over  the  edge  of 
the  cliff,  where  he  fell  into  the  sea,  and  was  drowned. 

Rodomont,  when  he  had  got  rid  of  the  hermit, 
again  applied  to  the  sad  lady,  heartless  with  affright, 
and,  in  the  language  used  by  lovers,  said,  "she  was 
his  very  heart,  his  life,  his  light."  Having  laid  aside 
all  violence,  he  humbly  sued  that  she  would  accom- 
pany him  to  his  retreat,  near  by.  It  was  a  ruined 
chapel  from  which  the  monks  had  been  driven  by  the 
disorders  of  the  time,  and  which  Rodomont  had  taken 
possession  of.  Isabella,  who  had  no  choice  but  to 
obey,  followed  him,  meditating  as  she  went  what  re- 
source she  could  find  to  escape  out  of  his  power,  and 
keep  her  vow  to  her  dead  husband,  to  be  faithful  to 
his  memory  as  long  as  life  should  last.  At  length  she 
said,  "  If,  my  lord,  you  will  let  me  go  and  fulfil  my 
vow,  and  my  intention,  as  I  have  already  declared  it, 
I  will  bestow  upon  you  what  will  be  to  you  of  more 
value  than  a  hundred  women's  hearts.  I  know  an 
herb,  and  I  have  seen  it  on  our  way,  which,  rightly 
prepared,  affords  a  juice  of  such  power,  that  the  flesh, 
if  laved  with  it,  becomes  impenetrable  to  sword  or  fire. 
This  liquor  I  can  make,  and  will,  to-day,  if  you  will 
accept  my  offer  ;  and  when  you  have  seen  its  virtue 
you  will  value  it  more  than  if  all  Europe  were  made 
your  own." 

Rodomont,  at  hearing  this,  readily  promised  all  that 


134        LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

was  asked,  so  eager  was  he  to  learn  a  secret  that  would 
make  him  as  Achilles  was  of  yore.  Isabella,  having 
collected  such  herbs  as  she  thought  proper,  and  boiled 
them,  with  certain  mysterious  signs  and  words,  at  length 
declared  her  labor  done,  and,  as  a  test,  offered  to  try 
its  virtue  on  herself.  She  bathed  her  neck  and  bosom 
with  the  liquor,  and  then  called  on  Rodomont  to  smite 
with  all  his  force,  and  see  whether  his  sword  had 
power  to  harm.  The  pagan,  who  during  the  prepar- 
ations had  taken  frequent  draughts  of  wine,  and  scarce 
knew  what  he  did,  drew  his  sword  at  the  word,  and 
struck  across  her  neck  with  all  his  might,  and  the  fair 
head  leapt  sundered  from  the  snowy  neck  and  breast. 

Rude  and  unfeeling  as  he  was,  the  pagan  knight 
lamented  bitterly  this  sad  result.  To  honor  her  mem- 
ory he  resolved  to  do  a  work  as  unparalleled  as  her 
devotion.  From  all  parts  round  he  caused  laborers  to 
be  brought,  and  had  a  tower  built  to  enclose  the 
chapel,  within  which  the  remains  of  Zerbino  and 
Isabella  were  entombed.  Across  the  stream  which 
flowed  near  by  he  built  a  bridge,  scarce  two  yards 
wide,  and  added  neither  parapet  nor  rail.  On  the  top 
of  the  tower  a  sentry  was  placed,  who,  when  any 
traveller  approached  the  bridge,  gave  notice  to  his 
master.  Rodomont  thereupon  sallied  out,  and  defied 
the  approaching  knight  to  fight  him  upon  the  bridge, 
where  any  chance  step  a  little  aside  would  plunge  the 
rider  headlong  in  the  stream.  This  bridge  he  vowed 
to  keep  until  -a  thousand  suits  of  armor  should  be  won 
from  conquered  knights,  wherewith  to  build  a  trophy 
to  his  victim  and  her  lord. 

Within  ten  days  the  bridge  was  built,  and  the  tower 
was  in  progress.  In  a  short  time  many  knights,  either 
seeking  the  shortest  route,  or  tempted  by  a  desire  of 


2ERBINO   AND    ISABELLA.  135 

adventure,  had  made  the  attempt  to  pass  the  bridge. 
All,  without  exception,  had  lost  either  arms  or  life, 
or  both  ;  some  falling  before  Rodomont's  lance,  others 
precipitated  into  the  river.  One  day,  as  Rodomont 
stood  urging  his  workmen,  it  chanced  that  Orlando  in 
his  furious  mood  came  thither,  and  approached  the 
bridge.  Rodomont  halloed  to  him,  "  Halt,  churl  ; 
presume  not  to  set  foot  upon  that  bridge  ;  it  was  not 
made  for  such  as  you  !  "  Orlando  took  no  notice, 
but  pressed  on.  Just  then  a  gentle  damsel  rode  up. 
It  was  Flordelis,  who  was  seeking  her  Florismart. 
She  saw  Orlando,  and,  in  spite  of  his  strange  appear- 
ance, recognized  him.  Rodomont,  not  used  to  have 
his  commands  disobeyed,  laid  hands  on  the  madman, 
and  would  have  thrown  him  into  the  river,  but  to 
his  astonishment  found  himself  in  the  gripe  of  one  not 
so  easily  disposed  of.  "  How  can  a  fool  have  such 
strength  ?  "  he  growled  between  his  teeth.  Flordelis 
stopped  to  see  the  issue,  where  each  of  these  two 
puissant  warriors  strove  to  throw  the  other  from  the 
bridge.  Orlando  at  last  had  strength  enough  to  lift 
his  foe  with  all  his  armor,  and  fling  him  over  the  side, 
but  had  not  wit  to  clear  himself  from  him,  so  both 
fell  together.  High  flashed  the  wave  as  they  together 
smote  its  surface.  Here  Orlando  had  the  advantage  ; 
he  was  naked,  and  could  swim  like  a  fish.  He  soon 
reached  the  bank,  and,  careless  of  praise  or  blame, 
stopped  not  to  see  what  came  of  the  adventure. 
Rodomont,  entangled  with  his  armor,  escaped  with 
difficulty  to  the  bank.  Meantime,  Flordelis  passed  the 
bridge  unchallenged. 

After  long  wandering  without  success  she  returned 
to  Paris,  and  there  found  the  object  of  her  search  ; 
for  Florismart,  after  the  fall  of  Albracca,  had  repaired 


136         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

thither.  The  joy  of  meeting  was  clouded  to  Floris- 
mart  by  the  news  which  Flordelis  brought  of  Or- 
lando's wretched  plight.  The  last  she  had  seen  of 
him  was  when  he  fell  with  Rodomont  into  the  stream. 
Florismart,  who  loved  Orlando  like  a  brother,  resolved 
to  set  out  immediately,  under  the  guidance  of  the  lady, 
to  find  him,  and  bring  him  where  he  might  receive 
the  treatment  suited  to  his  case.  A  few  days  brought 
them  to  the  place  where  they  found  the  Tartar  king 
still  guarding  the  bridge.  The  usual  challenge  and 
defiance  was  made,  and  the  knights  rode  to  encounter 
one  another  on  the  bridge.  At  the  first  encounter 
both  horses  were  overthrown  ;  and,  having  no  space 
to  regain  their  footing,  fell  with  their  riders  into  the 
water.  Rodomont,  who  knew  the  soundings  of  the 
stream,  soon  recovered  the  land  ;  but  Florismart  was 
carried  downward  by  the  current,  and  landed  at  last 
on  a  bank  of  mud  where  his  horse  could  hardly  find 
footing.  Flordelis,  who  watched  the  battle  from  the 
bridge,  seeing  her  lover  in  this  piteous  case,  exclaimed 
aloud,  "  Ah  !  Rodomont,  for  love  of  her  whom  dead 
you  honor,  have  pity  on  me,  who  love  this  knight, 
and  slay  him  not.  Let  it  suffice  he  yields  his  armor 
to  the  pile,  and  none  more  glorious  will  it  bear  than 
his."  Her  prayer,  so  well  directed,  touched  the 
pagan's  heart,  though  hard  to  move,  and  he  lent  his 
aid  to  help  the  knight  to  land.  He  kept  him  a 
prisoner,  however,  and  added  his  armor  to  the  pile. 
Flordelis,  with  a  heavy  heart,  went  her  way. 

We  must  now  return  to  Rogero,  who,  when  we 
parted  with  him,  was  engaged  in  an  adventure  which 
arrested  his  progress  to  the  monastery  whither  he  was 
bound  with  the  intention  of  receiving  baptism,  and 
thus  qualifying  himself  to  demand  Bradamante  as  his 


2ERB1NO   AND    ISABELLA.  137 

bride.  On  his  way  he  met  with  Mandricardo,  and 
the  quarrel  was  revived  respecting  the  right  to  wear 
the  badge  of  Hector.  After  a  warm  discussion  both 
parties  agreed  to  submit  the  question  to  King  Agramant, 
and  for  that  purpose  took  their  way  to  the  Saracen 
camp.  Here  they  met  Gradasso,  who  had  his  contro- 
versy also  with  Mandricardo.  This  warrior  claimed 
the  sword  of  Orlando,  denying  the  right  of  Mandricardo 
to  possess  it  in  virtue  of  his  having  found  it  abandoned 
by  its  owner.  King  Agramant  strove  in  vain  to 
reconcile  these  quarrels,  and  was  forced  at  last  to  con- 
sent that  the  points  in  dispute  should  be  settled  by 
one  combat,  in  which  Mandricardo  should  meet  one  of 
the  other  champions,  to  whom  should  be  committed  the 
cause  of  both.  Rogero  was  chosen  by  lot  to  maintain 
Gradasso' s  cause  and  his  own.  Great  preparations 
were  made  for  this  signal  contest.  On  the  appointed 
day  it  was  fought  in  the  presence  of  Agramant,  and  of 
the  whole  army.  Rogero  won  it  ;  and  Mandricardo, 
the  conqueror  of  Hector's  arms,  the  challenger  of 
Orlando,  and  the  slayer  of  Zerbino,  lost  his  life. 
Gradasso  received  Durindana  as  his  prize,  which  lost 
half  its  value  in  his  eyes,  since  it  was  won  by  another's 
prowess,  not  his  own. 

Rogero,  though  victorious,  was  severely  wounded, 
and  lay  helpless  many  weeks  in  the  camp  of  Agramant, 
while  Bradamante,  ignorant  of  the  cause  of  his  delay, 
expected  him  at  Montalban.  Thither  he  had  prom- 
ised to  repair  in  fifteen  days,  or  twenty  at  furthest, 
hoping  to  have  obtained  by  that  time  an  honorable 
discharge  from  his  obligations  to  the  Saracen  com- 
mander. The  twenty  days  were  passed,  and  a 
month  more,  and  still  Rogero  came  not,  nor  did  any 
tidings  reach  Bradamante  accounting  for  his  absence. 


138         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

At  the  end  of  that  time,  a  wandering  knight  brought 
news  of  the  famous  combat,  and  of  Rogero's  wound. 
FJe  added,  what  alarmed  Bradamante  still  more,  that 
Marphisa,  a  female  warrior,  young  and  fair,  was  in 
attendance  on  the  wounded  knight.  He  added  that 
the  whole  army  expected  that,  as  soon  as  Rogero's 
wounds  were  healed,  the  pair  would  be  united  in 
marriage. 

Bradamante,  distressed  by  this  news,  though  she 
believed  it  but  in  part,  resolved  to  go  immediately  and 
see  for  herself.  She  mounted  Rabican,  the  horse  of 
Astolpho,  which  he  had  committed  to  her  care,  and 
took  with  her  the  lance  of  gold,  though  unaware  of 
its  wonderful  powers.  Thus  accoutred,  she  left  the 
castle,  and  took  the  road  toward  Paris  and  the  camp 
of  the  Saracens. 

Marphisa,  whose  devotion  to  Rogero  in  his  illness 
had  so  excited  the  jealousy  of  Bradamante,  was  the 
twin  sister  of  Rogero.  She,  with  him,  had  been  taken 
in  charge  when  an  infant  by  Atlantes,  the  magician, 
but  while  yet  a  child  she  had  been  stolen  away  by  an 
Arab  tribe.  Adopted  by  their  chief,  she  had  early 
learned  horsemanship  and  skill  in  arms,  and  at  this 
time  had  come  to  the  camp  of  Agramant  with  no 
other  view  than  to  see  and  test  for  herself  the  prowess 
of  the  warriors  of  either  camp,  whose  fame  rang 
through  the  world.  Arriving  at  the  very  moment  of 
the  late  encounter,  the  name  of  Rogero,  and  some  few 
facts  of  his  story  which  she  learned,  were  enough  to 
suggest  the  idea  that  it  was  her  brother  whom  she  saw 
victorious  in  the  single  combat.  Inquiry  satisfied  the 
two  of  their  near  kindred,  and  from  that  moment  Mar- 
phisa devoted  herself  to  the  care  of  her  new-found  and 
much-loved  brother. 


ZERBINO    AND    ISABELLA.  139 

In  those  moments  of  seclusion  Rogero  informed  his 
sister  of  what  he  had  learned  of  their  parentage  from 
old  Atlantes.  Rogero,  their  father,  a  Christian  knight, 
had  won  the  heart  of  Galaciella,  daughter  of  the  Sul- 
tan of  Africa,  and  sister  of  King  Agramant,  converted 
her  to  the  Christian  faith,  and  secretly  married  her. 
The  Sultan,  enraged  at  his  daughter's  marriage,  drove 
her  husband  into  exile,  and  caused  her  with  her  infant 
children,  Rogero  and  Marphisa,  to  be  placed  in  a 
boat  and  committed  to  the  winds  and  waves,  to  perish  ; 
from  which  fate  they  were  saved  by  Atlantes.  On 
hearing  this,  Marphisa  exclaimed,  "  How  can  you, 
brother,  leave  our  parents  unavenged  so  long,  and 
even  submit  to  serve  the  son  of  the  tyrant  who  so 
wronged  them  ?  "  Rogero  replied  that  it  was  but 
lately  he  had  learned  the  full  truth  ;  that  when  he 
learned  it  he  was  already  embarked  with  Agramant, 
from  whom  he  had  received  knighthood,  and  that  he 
only  waited  for  a  suitable  opportunity  when  he  might 
with  honor  desert  his  standard,  and  at  the  same  time 
return  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers.  Marphisa  hailed  this 
resolution  with  joy,  and  declared  her  intention  to  join 
with  him  in  embracing  the  Christian  faith. 


We  left  Bradamante  when,  mounted  on  Rabican 
and  armed  with  Astolpho's  lance,  she  rode  forth,  de- 
termined to  learn  the  cause  of  Rogero's  long  absence. 
One  day,  as  she  rode,  she  met  a  damsel,  of  visage 
and  of  manners  fair,  but  overcome  with  grief.  It  was 
Flordelis,  who  was  seeking  far  and  near  a  champion 
capable  of  liberating  and  avenging  her  lord.  Flordelis 
marked  the  approaching  warrior,  and,  judging  from 
appearances,  thought  she  had  found  the  champion  she 


140         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

sought.  "Are  you,  Sir  Knight,"  she  said,  "so 
daring  and  so  kind  as  to  take  up  my  cause  against  a 
fierce  and  cruel  warrior  who  has  made  prisoner  of  my 
lord,  and  forced  me  thus  to  be  a  wanderer  and  a  sup- 
pliant ?"  Then  she  related  the  events  which  had 
happened  at  the  bridge.  Bradamante,  to  whom  noble 
enterprises  were  always  welcome,  readily  embraced 
this,  and  the  rather  as  in  her  gloomy  forebodings  she 
felt  as  if  Rogero  was  forever  lost  to  her. 

Next  day  the  two  arrived  at  the  bridge.  The 
sentry  descried  them  approaching,  and  gave  notice  to 
his  lord,  who  thereupon  donned  his  armor  and  went 
forth  to  meet  them.  Here,  as  usual,  he  called  on  the 
advancing  warrior  to  yield  his  horse  and  arms  an 
oblation  to  the  tomb.  Bradamante  replied,  asking  by 
what  right  he  called  on  the  innocent  to  do  penance 
for  his  crime.  "  Your  life  and  your  armor,"  she 
added,  "  are  the  fittest  offering  to  her  tomb,  and  I,  a 
woman,  the  fittest  champion  to  take  them."  With 
that  she  couched  her  spear,  spurred  her  horse,  and 
ran  to  the  encounter.  King  Rodomont  came  on  with 
speed.  The  trampling  sounded  on  the  bridge  like 
thunder.  It  took  but  a  moment  to  decide  the  contest. 
The  golden  lance  did  its  office,  and  that  fierce  Moor, 
so  renowned  in  tourney,  lay  extended  on  the  bridge. 
"Who  is  the  loser  now?"  said  Bradamante;  but 
Rodomont,  amazed  that  a  woman's  hand  should  have 
laid  him  low,  could  not  or  would  not  answer.  Silent 
and  sad,  he  raised  himself,  unbound  his  helm  and  mail, 
and  flung  them  against  the  tomb  ;  then,  sullen  and  on 
foot,  left  the  ground  ;  but  first  gave  orders  to  one  of 
his  squires  to  release  all  his  prisoners.  They  had  been 
sent  off  to  Africa.  Besides  Florismart,  there  were 
Sansonnet  and  Oliver,  who  had  ridden  that  way  in 


ZERBINO    AND    ISABELLA.  14! 

quest  of  Orlando,  and  had  both  in  turn  been  over- 
thrown in  the  encounter. 

Bradamante  after  her  victory  resumed  her  route, 
and  in  due  time  reached  the  Christian  camp,  where 
she  readily  learned  an  explanation  of  the  mystery 
which  had  caused  her  so  much  anxiety.  Rogero  and 
his  fair  and  brave  sister,  Marphisa,  were  too  illustri- 
ous by  their  station  and  exploits  not  to  be  the  frequent 
topic  of  discourse  even  among  their  adversaries,  and 
all  that  Bradamante  was  anxious  to  know  reached  her 
ear,  almost  without  inquiry. 

We  now  return  to  Gradasso,  who  by  Rogero's 
victory  had  been  made  possessor  of  Durindana.  There 
now  only  remained  to  him  to  seek  the  horse  of 
Rinaldo  ;  and  the  challenge,  given  and  accepted,  was 
yet  to  be  fought  with  that  warrior,  for  it  had  been 
interrupted  by  the  arts  of  Malagigi.  Gradasso  now 
sought  another  meeting  with  Rinaldo,  and  met  with 
no  reluctance  on  his  part.  As  the  combat  was  for 
the  possession  of  Bayard,  the  knights  dismounted  and 
fought  pn  foot.  Long  time  the  battle  lasted.  Rinaldo, 
knowing  well  the  deadly  stroke  of  Durindana,  used  all 
his  art  to  parry  or  avoid  its  blow.  Gradasso  struck 
with  might  and  main,  but  wellnigh  all  his  strokes  were 
spent  in  air,  or  if  they  smote  they  fell  obliquely  and 
did  little  harm. 

Thus  had  they  fought  long,  glancing  at  one  another's 
eyes,  and  seeing  naught  else,  when  their  attention  was 
arrested  perforce  by  a  strange  noise.  They  turned, 
and  beheld  the  good  Bayard  attacked  by  a  monstrous 
bird.  Perhaps  it  was  a  bird,  for  such  it  seemed  ;  but 
when  or  where  such  a  bird  was  ever  seen  I  have  no- 
where read,  except  in  Turpin  ;  and  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  it  was  not  a  bird,  but  a  fiend,  evoked  from 


142         LEGENDS   OP   CHARLEMAGNE. 

underground  by  Malagigi,  and  thither  sent  on  purpose 
to  interrupt  the  fight.  Whether  a  fiend  or  a  fowl, 
the  monster  flew  right  at  Bayard,  and  clapped  his 
wings  in  his  face.  Thereat  the  steed  broke  loose,  and 
ran  madly  across  the  plain,  pursued  by  the  bird,  till 
Bayard  plunged  into  the  wood,  and  was  lost  to  sight. 

Rinaldo  and  Gradasso,  seeing  Bayard's  escape, 
agreed  to  suspend  their  battle  till  they  could  recover 
the  horse,  the  object  of  contention.  Gradasso  mounted 
his  steed,  and  followed  the  foot-marks  of  Bayard  into 
the  forest.  Rinaldo,  never  more  vexed  in  spirit, 
remained  at  the  spot,  Gradasso  having  promised  to 
return  thither  with  the  horse,  if  he  found  him.  He 
did  find  him,  after  long  search,  for  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  hear  him  neigh.  Thus  he  became  possessed 
of  both  the  objects  for  which  he  had  led  an  army  from 
his  own  country,  and  invaded  France.  He  did  not 
forget  his  promise  to  bring  Bayard  back  to  the  place 
where  he  had  left  Rinaldo,  but  only  muttering, 
«'  Now  I  have  got  him,  he  little  knows  me  who 
expects  me  to  give  him  up ;  if  Rinaldo  wants  the 
horse  let  him  seek  him  in  India,  as  I  have  sought  him 
in  France,"  —  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Aries, 
where  his  vessels  lay  ;  and  in  possession  of  the  two 
objects  of  his  ambition,  the  horse  and  the  sword,  sailed 
away  to  his  own  country. 


ASTOLPHO   IN   ABYSSINIA. 

WHEN  we  last  parted  with  the  adventurous  paladin 
Astolpho,  he  was  just  commencing  that  flight  over  the 
countries  of  the  world  from  which  he  promised  him- 
self so  much  gratification.  Our  readers  are  aware  that 


ASTOLPHO    IN   ABYSSINIA.  143 

the  eagle  and  the  falcon  have  not  so  swift  a  flight  as 
the  Hippogriff  on  which  Astolpho  rode.  It  was  not 
long,  therefore,  before  the  paladin,  directing  his  course 
toward  the  southeast,  arrived  over  that  part  of  Africa 
where  the  great  river  Nile  has  its  source.  Here  he 
alighted,  and  found  himself  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
capital  of  Abyssinia,  ruled  by  Senapus,  whose  riches 
and  power  were  immense.  His  palace  was  of  sur- 
passing splendor  ;  the  bars  of  the  gates,  the  hinges 
and  locks,  were  all  of  pure  gold  ;  in  fact,  this  metal,  in 
that  country,  is  put  to  all  those  uses  for  which  we 
employ  iron.  It  is  so  common  that  they  prefer  for 
ornamental  purposes  rock  crystal,  of  which  all  the 
columns  were  made.  Precious  stones  of  different 
kinds,  rubies,  emeralds,  sapphires,  and  topazes  were 
set  in  ornamental  designs,  and  the  walls  and  ceilings 
were  adorned  with  pearls. 

It  is  in  this  country  those  famous  balms  grow  of 
which  there  are  some  few  plants  in  that  part  of  Judaea 
called  Gilead.  Musk,  ambergris,  and  numerous  gums, 
so  precious  in  Europe,  are  here  in  their  native  climate. 
It  is  said  the  Sultan  of  Egypt  pays  a  vast  tribute  to 
the  monarch  of  this  country  to  hire  him  not  to  cut  off 
the  source  of  the  Nile,  which  he  might  easily  do,  and 
cause  the  river  to  flow  in  some  other  direction,  thus 
depriving  Egypt  of  the  source  of  its  fertility. 

At  the  time  of  Astolpho's  arrival  in  his  dominions, 
this  monarch  was  in  great  affliction.  In  spite  of  his 
riches  and  the  precious  productions  of  his  country,  he 
was  in  danger  of  dying  of  hunger.  He  was  a  prey 
to  a  flock  of  obscene  birds  called  Harpies,  which 
attacked  him  whenever  he  sat  at  meat,  and  with  their 
claws  snatched,  tore,  and  scattered  everything,  over- 
turning the  vessels,  devouring  the  food,  and  infecting 


144         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

what  they  left  with  their  filthy  touch.  It  was  said 
this  punishment  was  inflicted  upon  the  king  because 
when  young,  and  filled  with  pride  and  presumption, 
he  had  attempted  to  invade  with  an  army  the  terres- 
trial paradise,  which  is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  moun- 
tain whence  the  Nile  draws  its  source.  Nor  was  this 
his  only  punishment.  He  was  struck  blind. 

Astolpho,  on  arriving  in  the  dominions  of  this 
monarch,  hastened  to  pay  him  his  respects.  King 
Senapus  received  him  graciously,  and  ordered  a  splen- 
did repast  to  be  prepared  in  honor  of  his  arrival. 
While  the  guests  were  seated  at  table,  Astolpho  filling 
the  place  of  dignity  at  the  king's  right  hand,  the 
horrid  scream  of  the  Harpies  was  heard  in  the  air, 
and  soon  they  approached,  hovering  over  the  tables, 
seizing  the  food  from  the  dishes,  and  overturning 
everything  with  the  flapping  of  their  broad  wings.  In 
vain  the  guests  struck  at  them  with  knives  and  any 
weapons  which  they  had,  and  Astolpho  drew  his 
sword  and  gave  them  repeated  blows,  which  seemed 
to  have  no  more  effect  upon  them  than  if  their  bodies 
had  been  made  of  tow. 

At  last  Astolpho  thought  of  his  horn.  He  first 
gave  warning  to  the  king  and  his  guests  to  stop  their 
ears  ;  then  blew  a  blast.  The  Harpies,  terrified  at  the 
sound,  flew  away  as  fast  as  their  wings  could  carry 
them.  The  paladin  mounted  his  HippogrifF,  and  pur- 
sued them,  blowing  his  horn  as  often  as  he  came  near 
them.  They  stretched  their  flight  towards  the  great 
mountain,  at  the  foot  of  which  there  is  a  cavern, 
which  is  thought  to  be  the  mouth  of  the  infernal 
abodes.  Hither  those  horrid  birds  flew,  as  if  to  their 
home.  Having  seen  them  all  disappear  in  the  recess, 
Astolpho  cared  not  to  pursue  them  farther,  but 


ASTOLPHO    IN    ABYSSINIA.  145 

alighting,  rolled  huge  stones  into  the  mouth  of  the 
cave,  and  piled  branches  of  trees  therein,  so  that  he 
effectually  barred  their  passage  out,  and  we  have  no 
evidence  of  their  ever  having  been  seen  since  in  the 
outer  air. 

After  this  labor  Astolpho  refreshed  himself  by  bath- 
ing in  a  fountain  whose  pure  waters  bubbled  from  a 
cleft  of  the  rock.  Having  rested  awhile,  an  earnest 
desire  seized  him  of  ascending  the  mountain  which 
towered  above  him.  The  HippogrifF  bore  him  swiftly 
upwards,  and  landed  him  on  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
which  he  found  to  be  an  extensive  plain. 

A  splendid  palace  rose  in  the  middle  of  this  plain, 
whose  walls  shone  with  such  brilliancy  that  mortal 
eyes  could  hardly  bear  the  sight.  Astolpho  guided  the 
winged  horse  towards  this  edifice,  and  made  him  poise 
himself  in  the  air  while  he  took  a  leisurely  survey  of 
this  favored  spot  and  its  environs.  It  seemed  as  if 
nature  and  art  had  striven  with  one  another  to  see 
which  could  do  the  most  for  its  embellishment. 

Astolpho,  on  approaching  the  edifice,  saw  a  venera- 
ble man  advance  to  meet  him.  This  personage  was 
clothed  in  a  long  vesture  as  white  as  snow,  while  a 
mantle  of  purple  covered  his  shoulders,  and  hung  down 
to  the  ground.  A  white  beard  descended  to  his 
middle,  and  his  hair,  of  the  same  color,  overshadowed 
his  shoulders.  His  eyes  were  so  brilliant  that  Astol- 
pho felt  persuaded  that  he  was  a  blessed  inhabitant  of 
the  heavenly  mansions. 

The  sage,  smiling  benignantly  upon  the  paladin, 
who  from  respect  had  dismounted  from  his  horse,  said 
to  him  :  "  Noble  chevalier,  know  that  it  is  by  the 
Divine  will  you  have  been  brought  to  the  terrestrial 
paradise.  Your  mortal  nature  could  not  have  borne 


146         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

to  scale  these  heights  and  reach  these  seats  of  bliss  if  it 
were  not  the  will  of  Heaven  that  you  should  be  in- 
structed in  the  means  to  succor  Charles,  and  to  sustain 
the  glory  of  our  holy  faith.  I  am  prepared  to  impart 
the  needed  counsels  ;  but  before  I  begin  let  me  wel- 
come you  to  our  sojourn.  I  doubt  not  your  long  fast 
and  distant  journey  have  given  you  a  good  appetite." 

The  aspect  of  the  venerable  man  filled  the  prince 
with  admiration  ;  but  his  surprise  ceased  when  he 
learned  from  him  that  he  was  that  one  of  the  Apostles 
of  our  Lord  to  whom  he  said,  "  I  will  that  thou  tarry 
till  I  come." 

St.  John,  conducting  Astolpho,  rejoined  his  com- 
panions. These  were  the  patriarch  Enoch  and  the 
prophet  Elijah  ;  neither  of  whom  had  yet  seen  his 
dying  day,  but,  taken  from  our  lower  world,  were 
dwelling  in  a  region  of  peace  and  joy,  in  a  climate  of 
eternal  spring,  till  the  last  trumpet  shall  sound. 

The  three  holy  inhabitants  of  the  terrestrial  paradise 
received  Astolpho  with  the  greatest  kindness,  carried 
him  to  a  pleasant  apartment,  and  took  great  care  of 
the  HippogrifF,  to  whom  they  gave  such  food  as 
suited  him,  while  to  the  prince  they  presented  fruits 
so  delicious  that  he  felt  inclined  to  excuse  our  first 
parents  for  their  sin  in  eating  them  without  permission. 

Astolpho,  having  recruited  his  strength,  not  only 
by  these  excellent  fruits,  but  also  by  sweet  sleep, 
roused  himself  at  the  first  blush  of  dawn,  and  as 
soon  as  he  left  his  chamber  met  the  beloved  Apostle 
coming  to  seek  him.  St.  John  took  him  by  the  hand, 
and  told  him  many  things  relating  to  the  past  and 
the  future.  Among  others,  he  said,  "  Son,  let  me 
tell  you  what  is  now  going  on  in  France.  Orlando, 
the  illustrious  prince  who  received  at  his  birth  the 


ASTOLPHO    IN    ABYSSINIA.  147 

endowment  of  strength  and  courage  more  than  mortal, 
raised  up  as  was  Samson  of  old  to  be  the  champion  of 
the  true  faith,  has  been  guilty  of  the  basest  ingrati- 
tude in  leaving  the  Christian  camp  when  it  most 
needed  the  support  of  his  arm,  to  run  after  a  Saracen 
princess,  whom  he  would  fain  marry,  though  she 
scorns  him.  To  punish  him  his  reason  has  been  taken 
away,  so  that  he  runs  naked  through  the  land,  over 
mountains  and  through  valleys,  without  a  ray  of  in- 
telligence. The  duration  of  his  punishment  has  been 
fixed  at  three  months,  and  that  time  having  nearly 
expired,  you  have  been  brought  hither  to  learn  from 
us  the  means  by  which  the  reason  of  Orlando  may  be 
restored.  True,  you  will  be  obliged  to  make  a 
journey  with  me,  and  we  must  even  leave  the  earth, 
and  ascend  to  the  moon,  for  it  is  in  that  planet  we  are 
to  seek  the  remedy  for  the  madness  of  the  paladin.  I 
propose  to  make  our  journey  this  evening,  as  soon  as 
the  moon  appears  over  our  head." 

As  soon  as  the  sun  sunk  beneath  the  seas,  and  the 
moon  presented  its  luminous  disk,  the  holy  man  had 
the  chariot  brought  out  in  which  he  was  accustomed 
to  make  excursions  among  the  stars,  the  same  which 
was  employed  long  ago  to  convey  Elijah  up  from 
earth.  The  saint  made  Astolpho  seat  himself  beside 
him,  took  the  reins,  and  giving  the  word  to  the 
coursers,  they  bore  them  upward  with  astonishing 
celerity. 

At  length  they  reached  the  great  continent  of  the 
Moon.  Its  surface  appeared  to  be  of  polished  steel, 
with  here  and  there  a  spot  which,  like  rust,  obscured 
its  brightness.  The  paladin  was  astonished  to  see  that 
the  earth,  with  all  its  seas  and  rivers,  seemed  but  an 
insignificant  spot  in  the  distance. 


148         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

The  prince  discovered  in  this  region  so  new  to  him 
rivers,  lakes,  plains,  hills,  and  valleys.  Many  beauti- 
ful cities  and  castles  enriched  the  landscape.  He  saw 
also  vast  forests,  and  heard  in  them  the  sound  of  horns 
and  the  barking  of  dogs,  which  led  him  to  conclude 
that  the  nymphs  were  following  the  chase. 

The  knight,  filled  with  wonder  at  all  he  saw,  was 
conducted  by  the  saint  to  a  valley,  where  he  stood 
amazed  at  the  riches  strewed  all  around  him.  Well 
he  might  be  so,  for  that  valley  was  the  receptacle  of 
things  lost  on  earth,  either  by  men's  fault,  or  by  the 
effect  of  time  and  chance.  Let  no  one  suppose  we 
speak  here  of  kingdoms  or  of  treasures  ;  they  are  the 
toys  of  Fortune,  which  she  dispenses  in  turning  her 
wheel  ;  we  speak  of  things  which  she  can  neither  give 
nor  take  away.  Such  are  reputations,  which  appear 
at  one  time  so  brilliant,  and  a  short  time  after  are 
heard  of  no  more.  Here,  also,  are  countless  vows  and 
prayers  for  unattainable  objects,  lovers'  sighs  and  tears, 
time  spent  in  gaming,  dressing,  and  doing  nothing,  the 
leisure  of  the  dull  and  the  intentions  of  the  lazy, 
baseless  projects,  intrigues,  and  plots  ;  these  and  such 
like  things  fill  all  the  valley. 

Astolpho  had  a  great  desire  to  understand  all  that 
he  saw,  and  which  appeared  to  him  so  extraordinary. 
Among  the  rest,  he  observed  a  great  mountain  of 
blown  bladders,  from  which  issued  indistinct  noises. 
The  saint  told  him  these  were  the  dynasties  of  Assy- 
rian and  Persian  kings,  once  the  wonder  of  the  earth, 
of  which  now  scarce  the  name  remains. 

Astolpho  could  not  help  laughing  when  the  saint 
said  to  him,  "  All  these  hooks  of  silver  and  gold  that 
you  see  are  the  gifts  of  courtiers  to  princes,  made  in 
the  hope  of  getting  something  better  in  return."  He 


ASTOLPHO    IN    ABYSSINIA.  149 

also  showed  him  garlands  of  flowers  in  which  snares 
were  concealed  ;  these  were  flatteries  and  adulations, 
meant  to  deceive.  But  nothing  was  so  comical  as  the 
sight  of  numerous  grasshoppers  which  had  burst  their 
lungs  with  chirping.  These,  he  told  him,  were  son- 
nets, odes,  and  dedications,  addressed  by  venal  poets 
to  great  people. 

The  paladin  beheld  with  wonder  what  seemed  a  lake 
of  spilled  milk.  "  It  is,"  said  the  saint,  "the  charity 
done  by  frightened  misers  on  their  death-beds."  It 
would  take  too  long  to  tell  all  that  the  valley  con- 
tained :  meanness,  affectations,  pretended  virtues,  and 
concealed  vices  were  there  in  abundance. 

Among  the  rest  Astolpho  perceived  many  days  of 
his  own  lost,  and  many  imprudent  sallies  which  he  had 
made,  and  would  have  been  glad  not  to  have  been 
reminded  of.  But  he  also  saw  among  so  many  lost 
things  a  great  abundance  of  one  thing  which  men  are 
apt  to  think  they  all  possess,  and  do  not  think  it  neces- 
sary to  pray  for,  —  good  sense.  This  commodity  ap- 
peared under  the  form  of  a  liquor,  most  light  and  apt 
to  evaporate.  It  was  therefore  kept  in  vials,  firmly 
sealed.  One  of  these  was  labelled,  "The  sense  of 
the  Paladin  Orlando." 

All  the  bottles  were  ticketed,  and  the  sage  placed 
one  in  Astolpho's  hand,  which  he  found  was  his  own. 
It  was  more  than  half  full.  He  was  surprised  to  find 
there  many  other  vials  which  contained  almost  the 
whole  of  the  wits  of  many  persons  who  passed  among 
men  for  wise.  Ah,  how  easy  it  is  to  lose  one's  reason  ! 
Some  lose  theirs  by  yielding  to  the  sway  of  the  pas- 
sions ;  some  in  braving  tempests  and  shoals  in  search 
of  wealth  ;  some  by  trusting  too  much  to  the  promises 
of  the  great  ;  some  by  setting  their  hearts  on  trifles. 


150         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  bottles  which  held 
the  wits  of  astrologers,  inventors,  metaphysicians,  and 
above  all,  of  poets,  were  in  general  the  best  filled 
of  all. 

Astolpho  took  his  bottle,  put  it  to  his  nose,  and  in- 
haled it  all  ;  and  Turpin  assures  us  that  he  was  for  a 
long  time  afterwards  as  sage  as  one  could  wish  ;  but 
the  Archbishop  adds  that  there  was  reason  to  fear  that 
some  of  the  precious  fluid  afterwards  found  its  way 
back  into  the  bottle.  The  paladin  took  also  the 
bottle  which  belonged  to  Orlando.  It  was  a  large 
one,  and  quite  full. 

Before  quitting  the  planetary  region  Astolpho  was 
conducted  to  an  edifice  on  the  borders  of  a  river.  He 
was  shown  an  immense  hall  full  of  bundles  of  silk, 
linen,  cotton,  and  wool.  A  thousand  different  colors, 
brilliant  or  dull,  some  quite  black,  were  among  these 
skeins.  In  one  part  of  the  hall  an  old  woman  was 
busy  winding  off  yarns  from  all  these  different  bundles. 
When  she  had  finished  a  skein  another  ancient  dame 
took  it  and  placed  it  with  others  ;  a  third  selected  from 
the  fleeces  spun,  and  mingled  them  in  due  proportions. 
The  paladin  inquired  what  all  this  might  be.  "These 
old  women,"  said  the  saint,  "  are  the  Fates,  who  spin, 
measure,  and  terminate  the  lives  of  mortals.  As  long 
as  the  thread  stretches  in  one  of  those  skeins,  so  long 
does  the  mortal  enjoy  the  light  of  day  ;  but  nature  and 
death  are  on  the  alert  to  shut  the  eyes  of  those  whose 
thread  is  spun." 

Each  one  of  the  skeins  had  a  label  of  gold,  silver,  or 
iron,  bearing  the  name  of  the  individual  to  whom  it 
belonged.  An  old  man,  who,  in  spite  of  the  burden 
of  years,  seemed  brisk  and  active,  ran  without  ceasing 
to  fill  his  apron  with  these  labels,  and  carried  them 


ASTOLPHO    IN   ABYSSINIA.  151 

away  to  throw  them  into  the  river,  whose  name  was 
Lethe.  When  he  reached  the  shore  of  the  river  the 
old  man  shook  out  his  apron,  and  the  labels  sunk  to  the 
bottom.  A  small  number  only  floated  for  a  time, 
hardly  one  in  a  thousand.  Numberless  birds,  hawks, 
crows,  and  vultures  hovered  over  the  stream,  with 
clamorous  cries,  and  strove  to  snatch  from  the  water 
some  of  these  names  ;  but  they  were  too  heavy  for 
them,  and  after  a  while  the  birds  were  forced  to  let 
them  drop  into  the  river  of  oblivion.  But  two  beauti- 
ful swans,  of  snowy  whiteness,  gathered  some  few  of 
the  names,  and  returned  with  them  to  the  shore, 
where  a  lovely  nymph  received  them  from  their  beaks, 
and  carried  them  to  a  temple  placed  upon  a  hill,  and 
suspended  them  for  all  time  upon  a  sacred  column,  on 
which  stood  the  statue  of  Immortality. 

Astolpho  was  amazed  at  all  this,  and  asked  his  guide 
to  explain  it.  He  replied,  "  The  old  man  is  Time. 
All  the  names  upon  the  tickets  would  be  immortal  if 
the  old  man  did  not  plunge  them  into  the  river  of 
oblivion.  Those  clamorous  birds  which  make  vain 
efforts  to  save  certain  of  the  names  are  flatterers,  pen- 
sioners, venal  rhymesters,  who  do  their  best  to  rescue 
from  oblivion  the  unworthy  names  of  their  patrons  ; 
but  all  in  vain  ;  they  may  keep  them  from  their  fate  a 
little  while,  but  ere  long  the  river  of  oblivion  must 
swallow  them  all. 

"  The  swans,  that  with  harmonious  strains  carry 
certain  names  to  the  temple  of  Eternal  Memory,  are 
the  great  poets,  who  save  from  oblivion  worse  than 
death  the  names  of  those  they  judge  worthy  of  immor- 
tality. Swans  of  this  kind  are  rare.  Let  monarchs 
know  the  true  breed,  and  fail  not  to  nourish  with  care 
such  as  may  chance  to  appear  in  their  time." 


LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 


THE    WAR    IN  AFRICA. 

WHEN  Astolpho  had  descended  to  the  earth  with 
the  precious  phial  St.  John  showed  him  a  plant  of 
marvellous  virtues,  with  which  he  told  him  he  had 
only  to  touch  the  eyes  of  the  king  of  Abyssinia  to  re- 
store him  to  sight.  "  That  important  service,"  said 
the  saint,  "  added  to  your  having  delivered  him  from 
the  Harpies,  will  induce  him  to  give  you  an  army 
wherewith  to  attack  the  Africans  in  their  rear,  and 
force  them  to  return  from  France  to  defend  their  own 
country."  The  saint  also  instructed  him  how  to  lead 
his  troops  in  safety  across  the  great  deserts,  where 
caravans  are  often  overwhelmed  with  moving  columns 
of  sand.  Astolpho,  fortified  with  ample  instructions, 
remounted  the  Hippogriff,  thanked  the  saint,  received  his 
blessing,  and  took  his  flight  down  to  the  level  country. 

Keeping  the  course  of  the  river  Nile,  he  soon  ar- 
rived at  the  capital  of  Abyssinia,  and  rejoined  Senapus. 
The  joy  of  the  king  was  great  when  he  heard  again 
the  voice  of  the  hero  who  had  delivered  him  from  the 
Harpies.  Astolpho  touched  his  eyes  with  the  plant 
which  he  had  brought  from  the  terrestrial  paradise,  and 
restored  their  sight.  The  king's  gratitude  was  un- 
bounded. He  begged  him  to  name  a  reward,  prom- 
ising to  grant  it,  whatever  it  might  be.  Astolpho 
asked  an  army  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  Charlemagne, 
and  the  king  not  only  granted  him  a  hundred  thou- 
sand men,  but  offered  to  lead  them  himself. 

The  night  before  the  day  appointed  for  the  depart- 
ure of  the  troops  Astolpho  mounted  his  winged  horse, 
and  directed  his  flight  towards  a  mountain,  whence  the 
fierce  South-wind  issues,  whose  blast  raises  the  sands 


THE    WAR   IN    AFRICA.  153 

of  the  Nubian  desert,  and  whirls  them  onward  in  over- 
whelming clouds.  The  paladin,  by  the  advice  of  St. 
John,  had  prepared  himself  with  a  leather  bag,  which 
he  placed  adroitly,  with  its  mouth  open,  over  the  vent 
whence  issues  this  terrible  wind.  At  the  first  dawn 
of  morning  the  wind  rushed  from  its  cavern  to  resume 
its  daily  course,  and  was  caught  in  the  bag,  and  se- 
curely tied  up.  Astolpho,  delighted  with  his  prize, 
returned  to  his  army,  placed  himself  at  their  head,  and 
commenced  his  march.  The  Abyssinians  traversed 
without  danger  or  difficulty  those  vast  fields  of  sand 
which  separate  their  country  from  the  kingdoms  of 
Northern  Africa,  for  the  terrible  South-wind,  taken 
completely  captive,  had  not  force  enough  left  to  blow 
out  a  candle. 

Senapus  was  distressed  that  he  could  not  furnish  any 
cavalry,  for  his  country,  rich  in  camels  and  elephants, 
was  destitute  of  horses.  This  difficulty  the  saint  had 
foreseen,  and  had  taught  Astolpho  the  means  of  reme- 
dying. He  now  put  those  means  in  operation. 
Having  reached  a  place  whence  he  beheld  a  vast  plain 
and  the  sea,  he  chose  from  his  troops  those  who  ap- 
peared to  be  the  best  made  and  the  most  intelligent. 
These  he  caused  to  be  arranged  in  squadrons  at  the 
foot  of  a  lofty  mountain  which  bordered  the  plain,  and 
he  himself  mounted  to  the  summit  to  carry  into  effect 
his  great  design.  Here  he  found  vast  quantities  of 
fragments  of  rock  and  pebbles.  These  he  set  rolling 
down  the  mountain's  side,  and,  wonderful  to  relate, 
as  they  rolled  they  grew  in  size,  made  themselves 
bodies,  legs,  necks,  and  long  faces.  Next  they  began 
to  neigh,  to  curvet,  to  scamper  on  all  sides  over  the 
plain.  Some  were  bay,  some  roan,  some  dapple, 
some  chestnut.  The  troops  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 


154         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

tain  exerted  themselves  to  catch  these  new-created 
horses,  which  they  easily  did,  for  the  miracle  had 
been  so  considerate  as  to  provide  all  the  horses  with  bri- 
dles and  saddles.  Astolpho  thus  suddenly  found  himself 
supplied  with  an  excellent  corps  of  cavalry,  not  fewer 
(as  Archbishop  Turpin  asserts)  than  eighty  thousand 
strong.  With  these  troops  Astolpho  reduced  all  the 
country  to  subjection,  and  at  last  arrived  before  the 
walls  of  Agramant's  capital  city,  Biserta,  to  which  he 
laid  siege. 

We  must  now  return  to  the  camp  of  the  Christians, 
which  lay  before  Aries,  to  which  city  the  Saracens 
had  retired  after  being  defeated  in  a  night  attack  led 
on  by  Rinaldo.  Agramant  here  received  the  tidings 
of  the  invasion  of  his  country  by  a  fresh  enemy,  the 
Abyssinians,  and  learned  that  Biserta  was  in  danger  of 
falling  into  their  hands.  He  took  counsel  of  his  offi- 
cers, and  decided  to  send  an  embassy  to  Charles,  pro- 
posing that  the  whole  quarrel  should  be  submitted  to 
the  combat  of  two  warriors,  one  from  each  side,  ac- 
cording to  the  issue  of  which  it  should  be  decided 
which  party  should  pay  tribute  to  the  other,  and  the 
war  should  cease.  Charlemagne,  who  had  not  heard 
of  the  favorable  turn  which  affairs  had  taken  in  Africa, 
readily  agreed  to  this  proposal,  and  Rinaldo  was  se- 
lected on  the  part  of  the  Christians  to  sustain  the 
combat. 

The  Saracens  selected  Rogero  for  their  champion. 
Rogero  was  still  in  the  Saracen  camp,  kept  there  by 
honor  alone,  for  his  mind  had  been  opened  to  the 
truth  of  the  Christian  faith  by  the  arguments  of  Brada- 
mante,  and  he  had  resolved  to  leave  the  party  of  the 
infidels  on  the  first  favorable  opportunity,  and  to  join 
the  Christian  side.  But  his  honor  forbade  him  to  do 


THE    WAR    IN    AFRICA.  155 

this  while  his  former  friends  were  in  distress  ;  and  thus 
he  waited  for  what  time  might  bring  forth,  when  he 
was  startled  by  the  announcement  that  he  had  been 
selected  to  uphold  the  cause  of  the  Saracens  against 
the  Christians,  and  that  his  foe  was  to  be  Rinaldo,  the 
brother  of  Bradamante. 

While  Rogero  was  overwhelmed  with  this  intelli- 
gence Bradamante  on  her  side  felt  the  deepest  dis- 
tress at  hearing  of  the  proposed  combat.  If  Rogero 
should  fall  she  felt  that  no  other  man  living  was 
worthy  of  her  love  ;  and  if,  on  the  other  hand, 
Heaven  should  resolve  to  punish  France  by  the  death 
of  her  chosen  champion,  Bradamante  would  have  to 
deplore  her  brother,  so  dear  to  her,  and  be  no  less 
completely  severed  from  the  object  of  her  affections. 

While  the  fair  lady  gave  herself  up  to  these  sad 
thoughts,  the  sage  enchantress,  Melissa,  suddenly 
appeared  before  her.  "  Fear  not,  my  daughter," 
said  she,  «'  I  shall  find  a  way  to  interrupt  this  combat 
which  so  distresses  you. " 

Meanwhile  Rinaldo  and  Rogero  prepared  their 
weapons  for  the  conflict.  Rinaldo  had  the  choice, 
and  decided  that  it  should  be  on  foot,  and  with  no 
weapons  but  the  battle-axe  and  poniard.  The  place 
assigned  was  a  plain  between  the  camp  of  Charle- 
magne and  the  walls  of  Aries. 

Hardly  had  the  dawn  announced  the  day  appointed 
for  this  memorable  combat,  when  heralds  proceeded 
from  both  sides  to  mark  the  lists.  Erelong  the  Afri- 
can troops  were  seen  to  advance  from  the  city, 
Agramant  at  their  head  ;  his  brilliant  arms  adorned 
in  the  Moorish  fashion,  his  horse  a  bay,  with  a  white 
star  on  his  forehead.  Rogero  marched  at  his  side,  and 
some  of  the  greatest  warriors  of  the  Saracen  camp 


156         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

attended  him,  bearing  the  various  parts  ot  his  armor 
and  weapons.  Charlemagne,  on  his  part,  proceeded 
from  his  intrenchments,  ranged  his  troops  in  semi- 
circle, and  stood  surrounded  by  his  peers  and  paladins. 
Some  of  them  bore  portions  of  the  armor  of  Rinaldo, 
the  celebrated  Ogier,  the  Dane,  bearing  the  helmet 
which  Rinaldo  took  from  Mambrino.  Duke  Namo 
or  Bavaria  and  Salomon  of  Bretagne  bore  two  axes, 
of  equal  weight,  prepared  for  the  occasion. 

The  terms  of  the  combat  were  then  sworn  to  with 
the  utmost  solemnity  by  all  parties.  It  was  agreed 
that  if  from  either  part  any  attempt  was  made  to  in- 
terrupt the  battle  both  combatants  should  turn  their 
arms  against  the  party  which  should  be  guilty  of  the 
interruption  ;  and  both  monarchs  assented  to  the  con- 
dition that  in  such  case  the  champion  of  the  offending 
party  should  be  discharged  from  his  allegiance,  and 
at  liberty  to  transfer  his  arms  to  the  other  side. 

When  all  the  preparations  were  concluded  the 
monarchs  and  their  attendants  retired  each  to  his  own 
side,  and  the  champions  were  left  alone.  The  two 
warriors  advanced  with  measured  steps  towards  each 
other,  and  met  in  the  middle  of  the  space.  They 
attacked  one  another  at  the  same  moment,  and  the 
air  resounded  with  the  blows  they  gave.  Sparks  flew 
from  their  battle-axes,  while  the  velocity  with  which 
they  managed  their  weapons  astonished  the  beholders. 
Rogero,  always  remembering  that  his  antagonist  was 
the  brother  of  his  betrothed,  could  not  aim  a  deadly 
wound  ;  he  strove  only  to  ward  off  those  levelled 
against  himself.  Rinaldo,  on  the  other  hand,  much 
as  he  esteemed  Rogero,  spared  not  his  blows,  for  he 
eagerly  desired  victory  for  his  own  sake,  and  for  the 
sake  of  his  country  and  his  faith. 


THE    WAR   IN    AFRICA.  157 

The  Saracens  soon  perceived  that  their  champion 
fought  feebly,  and  gave  not  to  Rinaldo  such  blows  as 
he  received  from  him.  His  disadvantage  was  so 
marked  that  anxiety  and  shame  were  manifest  on  the 
countenance  of  Agramant.  Melissa,  one  of  the  most 
acute  enchantresses  that  ever  lived,  seized  this  moment 
to  disguise  herself  under  the  form  of  Rodomont,  that 
rude  and  impetuous  warrior,  who  had  now  for  some 
time  been  absent  from  the  Saracen  camp.  Approach- 
ing Agramant,  she  said,  "  How  could  you,  my  lord, 
have  the  imprudence  of  selecting  a  young  man  without 
experience  to  oppose  the  most  redoubtable  warrior  of 
France  ?  Surely  you  must  have  been  regardless  of  the 
honor  of  your  arms,  and  of  the  fate  of  your  empire  ! 
But  it  is  not  too  late.  Break  without  delay  the  agree- 
ment which  is  sure  to  result  in  your  ruin. "  So  saying, 
she  addressed  the  troops  who  stood  near.  "  Friends," 
said  she,  "  follow  me  ;  under  my  guidance  every  one 
of  you  will  be  a  match  for  a  score  of  those  feeble 
Christians."  Agramant,  delighted  at  seeing  Rodomont 
once  more  at  his  side,  gave  his  consent,  and  the  Sara- 
cens, at  the  instant,  couched  their  lances,  set  spurs  to 
their  steeds,  and  swept  down  upon  the  French. 
Melissa,  when  she  saw  her  work  successful,  disap- 
peared. 

Rinaldo  and  Rogero,  seeing  the  truce  broken,  and 
the  two  armies  engaged  in  general  conflict,  stopped 
their  battle  ;  their  martial  fury  ceased  at  once,  they 
joined  hands,  and  resolved  to  act  no  more  on  either 
side  until  it  should  be  clearly  ascertained  which  party 
had  failed  to  observe  its  oath.  Both  renewed  their 
promise  to  abandon  forever  the  party  which  had  been 
thus  false  and  perjured. 

Meanwhile,  the  Christians,   after  the  first   moment 


158         LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

of  surprise,  met  the  Saracens  with  courage  redoubled 
by  rage  at  the  treachery  of  their  foes.  Guido  the 
Wild,  brother  and  rival  of  Rinaldo,  Griffon  and  Aqui- 
lant,  sons  of  Oliver,  and  numerous  others  whose  names 
have  already  been  celebrated  in  our  recitals,  beat  back 
the  assailants,  and  at  last,  after  prodigious  slaughter, 
forced  them  to  take  shelter  within  the  walls  of  Aries. 

We  will  now  return  to  Orlando,  whom  we  last 
heard  of  as  furiously  mad,  and  doing  a  thousand  acts 
of  violence  in  his  senseless  rage.  One  day  he  came  to 
the  borders  of  a  stream  which  intercepted  his  course. 
He  swam  across  it,  for  he  could  swim  like  an  otter, 
and  on  the  other  side  saw  a  peasant  watering  his  horse. 
He  seized  the  animal,  in  spite  of  the  resistance  of  the 
peasant,  and  rode  it  with  furious  speed  till  he  arrived 
at  the  sea-coast,  where  Spain  is  divided  from  Africa  by 
only  a  narrow  strait.  At  the  moment  of  his  arrival  a 
vessel  had  just  put  off  to  cross  the  strait.  She  was  full 
of  people  who,  with  glass  in  hand,  seemed  to  be  taking 
a  merry  farewell  of  the  land,  wafted  by  a  favorable 
breeze. 

The  frantic  Orlando  cried  out  to  them  to  stop  and 
take  him  in ;  but  they,  having  no  desire  to  admit  a 
madman  to  their  company,  paid  him  no  attention. 
The  paladin  thought  this  behavior  very  uncivil  ;  and  by 
force  of  blows  made  his  horse  carry  him  into  the  water 
in  pursuit  of  the  ship.  The  wretched  animal  soon  had 
only  his  head  above  water  ;  but  as  Orlando  urged  him 
forward,  nothing  was  left  for  the  poor  beast  but  either 
to  die  or  swim  over  to  Africa. 

Already  Orlando  had  lost  sight  of  the  bark  ;  distance 
and  the  swell  of  the  sea  completely  hid  it  from  his  sight. 
He  continued  to  press  his  horse  forward,  till  at  last  it 
could  struggle  no  more,  and  sunk  beneath  him.  Or- 


THE   WAR    IN    AFRICA.  159 

lando,  nowise  concerned,  stretched  out  his  nervous 
arms,  puffing  the  salt  water  from  before  his  mouth, 
and  carried  his  head  above  the  waves.  Fortunately 
they  were  not  rough,  scarce  a  breath  of  wind  agitated 
the  surface  ;  otherwise,  the  invincible  Orlando  would 
then  have  met  his  death.  But  fortune,  which  it  is  said 
favors  fools,  delivered  him  from  this  danger,  and  landed 
him  safe  on  the  shore  of  Ceuta.  Here  he  rambled 
along  the  shore  till  he  came  to  where  the  black  army 
of  Astolpho  held  its  camp. 

Now  it  happened,  just  before  this  time,  that  a  vessel 
filled  with  prisoners  which  Rodomont  had  taken  at  the 
bridge  had  arrived,  and,  not  knowing  of  the  presence 
of  the  Abyssinian  army,  had  sailed  right  into  port, 
where  of  course  the  prisoners  and  their  captors  changed 
places,  the  former  being  set  at  liberty  and  received  with 
all  joy,  the  latter  sent  to  serve  in  the  galleys.  Astolpho 
thus  found  himself  surrounded  with  Christian  knights, 
and  he  and  his  friends  were  exchanging  greetings  and 
felicitations,  when  a  noise  was  heard  in  the  camp,  and 
seemed  to  increase  every  moment. 

Astolpho  and  his  friends  seized  their  weapons, 
mounted  their  horses,  and  rode  to  the  quarter  whence 
the  noise  proceeded.  Imagine  their  astonishment  when 
they  saw  that  the  tumult  was  caused  by  a  single  man, 
perfectly  naked,  and  browned  with  dirt  and  exposure, 
but  of  a  force  and  fury  so  terrible  that  he  overturned 
all  that  offered  to  lay  hands  on  him. 

Astolpho,  Dudon,  Oliver,  and  Florismart  gazed  at 
him  with  amazement.  It  was  with  difficulty  they 
knew  him.  Astolpho,  who  had  been  warned  of  his 
condition  by  his  holy  monitor,  was  the  first  to  recog- 
nize him.  As  the  paladins  closed  round  Orlando, 
the  madman  dealt  one  and  another  a  blow  of  his  fist, 


l6o         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

which,  if  they  had  not  been  in  armor,  or  he  had  had 
any  weapon,  would  probably  have  despatched  them; 
as  it  was,  Dudon  and  Astolpho  measured  their  length 
on  the  sand.  But  Florismart  seized  him  from  behind, 
Sansonnet  and  another  grasped  his  legs,  and  at  last 
they  succeeded  in  securing  him  with  ropes.  They 
took  him  to  the  water-side  and  washed  him  well,  and 
then  Astolpho,  having  first  bandaged  his  mouth  so 
that  he  could  not  breathe  except  through  his  nose, 
brought  the  precious  phial,  uncorked  it,  and  placed  it 
adroitly  under  his  nostrils,  when  the  good  Orlando 
took  it  all  up  in  one  breath.  O  marvellous  prodigy  ! 
The  paladin  recovered  in  an  instant  all  his  intelligence. 
He  felt  like  one  who  had  awakened  from  a  painful 
dream,  in  which  he  had  believed  that  monsters  were 
about  to  tear  him  to  pieces.  He  seemed  prostrated, 
silent,  and  abashed.  Florismart,  Oliver,  and  Astol- 
pho stood  gazing  upon  him,  while  he  turned  his  eyes 
around  and  on  himself.  He  seemed  surprised  to  find 
himself  naked,  bound,  and  stretched  on  the  sea-shore. 
After  a  few  moments  he  recognized  his  friends,  and 
spoke  to  them  in  a  tone  so  tender  that  they  hastened 
to  unbind  him,  and  to  supply  him  with  garments. 
Then  they  exerted  themselves  to  console  him,  to  di- 
minish the  weight  with  which  his  spirits  were  op- 
pressed, and  to  make  him  forget  the  wretched  condition 
into  which  he  had  been  sunk. 

Orlando,  in  recovering  his  reason,  found  himself 
also  delivered  from  his  insane  attachment  to  the  queen 
of  Cathay.  His  heart  felt  now  no  further  influenced 
by  the  recollection  of  her  than  to  be  moved  with  an 
ardent  desire  to  retrieve  his  fame  by  some  distin- 
guished exploit.  Astolpho  would  gladly  have  yielded 
to  him  the  chief  command  of  the  army,  but  Orlando 


THE   WAR   IN   AFRICA.  l6l 

would  not  take  from  the  friend  to  whom  he  owed  so 
much  the  glory  of  the  campaign  ;  but  in  everything 
the  two  paladins  acted  in  concert,  and  united  their 
counsels.  They  proposed  to  make  a  general  assault 
on  the  city  of  Biserta,  and  were  only  waiting  a  favor- 
able moment,  when  their  plan  was  interrupted  by  new 
events. 

Agramant,  after  the  bloody  battle  which  followed 
the  infraction  of  the  truce,  found  himself  so  weak  that 
he  saw  it  was  in  vain  to  attempt  to  remain  in  France. 
So,  in  concert  with  Sobrino,  the  bravest  and  most 
trusted  of  his  chiefs,  he  embarked  to  return  to  his  own 
country,  having  previously  sent  off  his  few  remaining 
troops  in  the  same  direction.  The  vessel  which  carried 
Agramant  and  Sobrino  approached  the  shore  where 
the  army  of  Astolpho  lay  encamped  before  Biserta,  and 
having  discovered  this  fact  before  it  was  too  late,  the 
king  commanded  the  pilot  to  steer  eastward,  with  a 
view  to  seek  protection  of  the  King  of  Egypt.  But 
the  weather  becoming  rough,  he  consented  to  the  ad- 
vice of  his  companions,  and  sought  harbor  in  an  island 
which  lies  between  Sicily  and  Africa.  There  he  found 
Gradasso,  the  warlike  king  of  Sericane,  who  had  come 
to  France  to  possess  himself  of  the  horse  Bayard  and 
the  sword  Durindana  ;  and  having  procured  both  these 
prizes  was  returning  to  his  own  country. 

The  two  kings,  who  had  been  companions  in  arms 
under  the  walls  of  Paris,  embraced  one  another  affec- 
tionately. Gradasso  learned  with  regret  the  reverses 
of  Agramant,  and  offered  him  his  troops  and  his  per- 
son. He  strongly  deprecated  resorting  to  Egypt  for 
aid.  "  Remember  the  great  Pompey,"  said  he, 
"and  shun  that  fatal  shore.  My  plan,"  he  contin- 
ued, "is  this  :  I  mean  to  challenge  Orlando  to  single 


1 62         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

combat.  Possessed  of  such  a  sword  and  steed  as  mine, 
if  he  were  made  of  steel  or  bronze,  he  could  not  es- 
cape- me.  He  being  removed,  there  will  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  driving  back  the  Abyssinians.  We  will  rouse 
against  them  the  Moslem  nations  from  the  other  side 
of  the  Nile,  the  Arabians,  Persians,  and  Chaldeans,  who 
will  soon  make  Senapus  recall  his  army  to  defend  his 
own  territories." 

Agramant  approved  this  advice  except  in  one  par- 
ticular. "It  is  for  me,"  said  he,  "to  combat  Or- 
lando ;  I  cannot  with  honor  devolve  that  duty  on 
another." 

"  Let  us  adopt  a  third  course,"  said  the  aged  war- 
rior Sobrino.  "  I  would  not  willingly  remain  a  simple 
spectator  of  such  a  contest.  Let  us  send  three  squires 
to  the  shore  of  Africa  to  challenge  Orlando  and  any 
two  of  his  companions  in  arms  to  meet  us  three  in  this 
island  of  Lampedusa." 

This  counsel  was  adopted  ;  the  three  squires  sped 
on  their  way  ;  and  now  presented  themselves,  and  re- 
hearsed their  message  to  the  Christian  knights. 

Orlando  was  delighted,  and  rewarded  the  squires 
with  rich  gifts.  He  had  already  resolved  to  seek 
Gradasso  and  compel  him  to  restore  Durindana,  which 
he  had  learned  was  in  his  possession.  For  his  two 
companions  the  Count  chose  his  faithful  friend  Floris- 
mart  and  his  cousin  Oliver. 

The  three  warriors  embarked,  and  sailing  with  a 
favorable  wind,  the  second  morning  showed  them,  on 
their  right,  the  island  where  this  important  battle  was 
to  be  fought.  Orlando  and  his  two  companions,  hav- 
ing landed,  pitched  their  tent.  Agramant  had  placed 
his  opposite. 

Next  morning,  as    soon  as  Aurora  brightened  the 


THE   WAR   IN    AFRICA.  163 

edges  of  the  horizon,  the  warriors  of  both  parties 
armed  themselves  and  mounted  their  horses.  They 
took  their  positions,  face  to  face,  lowered  their  lances, 
placed  them  in  rest,  clapped  spurs  to  their  horses,  and 
flew  to  the  charge.  Orlando  met  the  charge  of  Gra- 
dasso.  The  paladin  was  unmoved,  but  his  horse  could 
not  sustain  the  terrible  shock  of  Bayard.  He  recoiled, 
staggered,  and  fell  some  paces  behind.  Orlando  tried 
to  raise  him,  but,  finding  his  efforts  unavailing,  seized 
his  shield,  and  drew  his  famous  Balisardo.  Meanwhile 
Agramant  and  the  brave  Oliver  gained  no  advantage, 
one  or  the  other ;  but  Florismart  unhorsed  the  King 
Sobrino.  Having  brought  his  foe  to  the  ground,  he 
would  not  pursue  his  victory,  but  hastened  to  attack 
Gradasso,  who  had  overthrown  Orlando.  Seeing  him 
thus  engaged,  Orlando  would  not  interfere,  but  ran 
with  sword  upraised  upon  Sobrino,  and  with  one  blow 
deprived  him  of  sense  and  motion.  Believing  him 
dead,  he  next  turned  to  aid  his  beloved  Florismart. 
That  brave  paladin,  neither  in  horse  nor  arms  equal 
to  his  antagonist,  could  but  parry  and  evade  the  blows 
of  the  terrible  Durindana.  Orlando,  eager  to  succor 
him,  was  delayed  for  a  moment  in  securing  and 
mounting  the  horse  of  the  King  Sobrino.  It  was  but 
an  instant,  and  with  sword  upraised,  he  rushed  upon 
Gradasso  ;  who,  noways  disconcerted  at  the  onset  of 
this  second  foe,  shouted  his  defiance,  and  thrust  at 
him  with  his  sword,  but,  having  miscalculated  the 
distance,  scarcely  reached  him,  and  failed  to  pierce 
his  mail.  Orlando,  in  return,  dealt  him  a  blow  with 
Balisardo,  which  wounded  as  it  fell  face,  breast,  and 
thigh,  and,  if  he  had  been  a  little  nearer,  would  have 
cleft  him  in  twain.  Sobrino,  by  this  time  recovered 
from  his  swoon,  though  severely  wounded,  raised  him- 


164         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

self  on  his  legs,  and  looked  to  see  how  he  might 
aid  his  friends.  Observing  Agramant  hard  pressed  by 
Oliver,  he  thrust  his  sword  into  the  bowels  of  the 
latter' s  horse,  which  fell,  and  bore  down  his  master, 
entangling  his  leg  as  he  fell,  so  that  Oliver  could  not 
extricate  himself.  Florismart  saw  the  danger  of  his 
friend,  and  ran  upon  Sobrino  with  his  horse,  over- 
threw him,  and  then  turned  to  defend  himself  from 
Agramant.  They  were  not  unequally  matched,  for 
though  Agramant,  mounted  on  Brigliadoro,  had  an 
advantage  over  Florismart,  whose  horse  was  but  in- 
different, yet  Agramant  had  received  a  serious  wound 
in  his  encounter  with  Oliver. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  fury  of  the  encounter 
between  Orlando  and  Gradasso.  Durindana,  in  the 
hands  of  Gradasso,  clove  asunder  whatever  it  struck  ; 
but  such  was  the  skill  of  Orlando,  who  perfectly  knew 
the  danger  to  which  he  was  exposed  from  a  stroke 
of  that  weapon,  it  had  not  yet  struck  him  in  such  a 
way  as  to  inflict  a  wound.  Meanwhile,  Gradasso  was 
bleeding  from  many  wounds,  and  his  rage  and  Sn- 
caution  increased  every  moment.  In  his  desperation 
he  lifted  Durindana  with  both  hands,  and  struck  so 
terrible  a  blow  full  on  the  helmet  of  Orlando,  that  for 
a  moment  it  stunned  the  paladin.  He  dropped  the 
reins,  and  his  frightened  horse  scoured  with  him  over 
the  plain.  Gradasso  turned  to  pursue  him,  but  at 
that  moment  saw  Florismart  in  the  very  act  of  striking 
a  fatal  blow  at  Agramant,  whom  he  had  unhorsed. 
While  Florismart  was  wholly  intent  upon  completing 
his  victory,  Gradasso  plunged  his  sword  into  his  side. 
Florismart  fell  from  his  horse,  and  bathed  the  plain 
with  his  blood. 

Orlando  recovered  himself  just  in  time  to  see  the 


THE   WAR   IN   AFRICA.  165 

deed.  Whether  rage  or  grief  predominated  in  his 
breast,  I  cannot  tell  ;  but,  seizing  Balisardo  with  fury, 
his  first  blow  fell  upon  Agramant,  who  was  nearest 
to  him,  and  smote  his  head  from  his  shoulders.  At 
this  sight  Gradasso  for  the  first  time  felt  his  courage 
sink,  and  a  dark  presentiment  of  death  come  over  him. 
He  hardly  stood  on  his  defence  when  Orlando  cast 
himself  upon  him,  and  gave  him  a  fatal  thrust.  The 
sword  penetrated  his  ribs,  and  came  out  a  palm's 
breadth  on  the  other  side  of  his  body. 

Thus  fell  beneath  the  sword  of  the  most  illustrious 
paladin  of  France  the  bravest  warrior  of  the  Saracen 
host.  Orlando  then,  as  if  despising  his  victory,  leaped 
lightly  to  the  ground,  and  ran  to  his  dear  friend 
Florismart,  embraced  him,  and  bathed  him  with  his 
tears.  Florismart  still  breathed.  He  could  even  com- 
mand his  voice  to  utter  a  few  parting  words  :  "  Dear 
friend,  do  not  forget  me,  —  give  me  your  prayers,  — 
and  oh  !  be  a  brother  to  Flordelis."  He  died  in  utter- 
ing her  name. 

After  a  few  moments  given  to  grief  Orlando  turned 
to  look  for  his  other  companion  and  his  late  foes. 
Oliver  lay  oppressed  with  the  weight  of  his  horse, 
from  which  he  had  in  vain  struggled  to  liberate  him- 
self. Orlando  extricated  him  with  difficulty  ;  he  then 
raised  Sobrino  from  the  earth,  and  committed  him  to 
his  squire,  treating  him  as  gently  as  if  he  had  been  his 
own  brother.  For  this  terrible  warrior  was  the  most 
generous  of  men  to  a  fallen  foe.  He  took  Bayard  and 
Brigliadoro,  with  the  arms  of  the  conquered  knights; 
their  bodies  and  their  other  spoils  he  remitted  to  their 
attendants. 

But  who  can  tell  the  grief  of  Flordelis  when  she 
saw  the  warriors  return,  and  found  not  Florismart  as 


1 66         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

usual  after  absence  hasten  to  her  side.  She  knew  by 
the  aspect  of  the  others  that  her  lord  was  slain.  At 
the  thought,  and  before  the  question  could  pass  her 
lips,  she  fell  senseless  upon  the  ground.  When  life 
returned,  and  she  learned  the  truth  of  her  worst  fears, 
she  bitterly  upbraided  herself  that  she  had  let  him 
depart  without  her.  "  I  might  have  saved  him  by 
a  single  cry  when  his  enemy  dealt  him  that  treacher- 
ous blow,  or  I  might  have  thrown  myself  between 
and  given  my  worthless  life  for  his.  Or  if  no  more, 
I  might  have  heard  his  last  words,  I  might  have  given 
him  a  last  kiss."  So  she  lamented,  and  could  not  be 
comforted. 


ROGERO   AND    BRADAMANTE. 

AFTER  the  interruption  of  the  combat  with  Rinaldo, 
as  we  have  related,  Rogero  was  perplexed  with  doubts 
what  course  to  take.  The  terms  of  the  treaty  required 
him  to  abandon  Agramant,  who  had  broken  it,  and  to 
transfer  his  allegiance  to  Charlemagne  ;  and  his  love 
for  Bradamante  called  him  in  the  same  direction  ;  but 
unwillingness  to  desert  his  prince  and  leader  in  the  hour 
ot  distress  forbade  this  course.  Embarking,  therefore, 
for  Africa,  he  took  his  way  to  rejoin  the  Saracen  army  ; 
but  was  arrested  midway  by  a  storm  which  drove  the 
vessel  on  a  rock.  The  crew  took  to  their  boat,  but 
that  was  quickly  swamped  in  the  waves,  and  Rogero 
with  the  rest  were  compelled  to  swim  for  their  lives. 
Then  while  buffeting  the  waves  Rogero  bethought  him 
of  his  sin  in  so  long  delaying  his  Christian  profession, 
and  vowed  in  his  heart  that,  if  he  should  live  to  reach 
the  land,  he  would  no  longer  delay  to  be  baptized. 


ROGERO   AND    BRADAMANTE.  167 

His  vows  were  heard  and  answered  ;  he  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  shore,  and  was  aided  and  relieved  on  land- 
ing by  a  pious  hermit,  whose  cell  overlooked  the  sea. 
From  him  he  received  baptism,  having  first  passed 
some  days  with  him,  partaking  his  humble  fare,  and 
receiving  instruction  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
faith. 

While  these  things  were  going  on,  Rinaldo,  who 
had  set  out  on  his  way  to  seek  Gradasso  and  recover 
Bayard  from  him,  hearing  on  his  way  of  the  great 
things  which  were  doing  in  Africa,  repaired  thither  to 
bear  his  part  in  them.  He  arrived  too  late  to  do  more 
than  join  his  friends  in  lamenting  the  loss  of  Florismart, 
and  to  rejoice  with  them  in  their  victory  over  the  Pagan 
knights.  On  the  death  of  their  king  the  Africans 
gave  up  the  contest,  Biserta  submitted,  and  the  Chris- 
tian knights  had  only  to  dismiss  their  forces,  and  return 
home.  Astolpho  took  leave  of  his  Abyssinian  army, 
and  sent  them  back  laden  with  spoil  to  their  own  coun- 
try, not  forgetting  to  intrust  to  them  the  bag  which 
held  the  winds,  by  means  of  which  they  were  enabled 
to  cross  the  sandy  desert  again  without  danger,  and 
did  not  untie  it  till  they  reached  their  own  country. 

Orlando  now,  with  Oliver,  who  much  needed  the 
surgeon's  care,  and  Sobrino,  to  whom  equal  attention 
was  shown,  sailed  in  a  swift  vessel  to  Sicily,  bearing 
with  him  the  body  of  Florismart,  to  be  laid  in  Chris- 
tian earth.  Rinaldo  accompanied  them,  as  did  San- 
sonnet  and  the  other  Christian  leaders.  Arrived  at 
Sicily,  the  funeral  was  solemnized  with  all  the  rites  of 
religion,  and  with  the  profound  grief  of  those  who  had 
known  Florismart,  or  had  heard  of  his  fame.  Then 
they  resumed  their  course,  steering  for  Marseilles. 
But  Oliver's  wound  grew  worse  instead  of  better,  and 


168         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

his  sufferings  so  distressed  his  friends  that  they  con- 
ferred together,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  Then  said 
the  pilot,  "  We  are  not  far  from  an  isle  where  a  holy 
hermit  dwells  alone  in  the  midst  of  the  sea.  It  is  said 
none  seek  his  counsel  or  his  aid  in  vain.  He  hath 
wrought  marvellous  cures,  and  if  you  resort  to  that 
/ioly  man  without  doubt  he  can  heal  the  knight." 
Orlando  bade  him  steer  thither,  and  soon  the  bark  was 
laid  safely  beside  the  lonely  rock  ;  the  wounded  man 
was  lowered  into  their  boat,  and  carried  by  the  crew 
to  the  hermit's  cell.  It  was  the  same  hermit  with 
whom  Rogero  had  taken  refuge  after  his  shipwreck,  by 
whom  he  had  been  baptized,  and  with  whom  he  was 
now  staying,  absorbed  in  sacred  studies  and  medita- 
tions. 

The  holy  man  received  Orlando  and  the  rest  with 
kindness,  and  inquired  their  errand  ;  and  being  told 
that  they  had  come  for  help  for  one  who,  warring  for 
the  Christian  faith,  was  brought  to  perilous  pass  by  a 
sad  wound,  he  straightway  undertook  the  cure.  His 
applications  were  simple,  but  they  were  seconded  by 
his  prayers.  The  paladin  was  soon  relieved  from  pain, 
and  in  a  few  days  his  foot  was  perfectly  restored  to 
soundness.  Sobrino,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  the  holy 
monk  perform  that  wonder,  cast  aside  his  false  prophet, 
and  with  contrite  heart  owned  the  true  God,  and  de- 
manded baptism  at  his  hands.  The  hermit  granted 
his  request,  and  also  by  his  prayers  restored  him  to 
health,  while  all  the  Christian  knights  rejoiced  in  his 
conversion  almost  as  much  as  at  the  restoration  of 
Oliver.  More  than  all  Rogero  felt  joy  and  gratitude, 
and  daily  grew  in  grace  and  faith. 

Rogero  was  known  by  fame  to  all  the  Christian 
knights,  but  not  even  Rinaldo  knew  him  by  sight, 


ROGERO    AND    BRADAMANTE.          169 

'though  he  had  proved  his  prowess  in  combat.  So- 
brino  made  him  known  to  them,  and  great  was  the  joy 
of  all  when  they  found  one  whose  valor  and  courtesy 
were  renowned  through  the  world  no  longer  an  enemy 
and  unbeliever,  but  a  convert  and  champion  of  the  true 
faith.  All  press  about  the  knight  ;  one  grasps  his 
hand,  another  locks  him  fast  in  his  embrace  ;  but  more 
than  all  the  rest,  Rinaldo  cherished  him,  for  he  more 
than  any  knew  his  worth. 

It  was  not  long  before  Rogero  confided  to  his  friend 
the  hopes  he  entertained  of  a  union  with  his  sister,  and 
Rinaldo  frankly  gave  his  sanction  to  the  proposal.  But 
causes  unknown  to  the  paladin  were  at  that  very  time 
interposing  obstacles  to  its  success. 

The  fame  of  the  beauty  and  worth  of  Bradamante 
had  reached  the  ears  of  the  Grecian  Emperor,  Constan- 
tine,  and  he  had  sent  to  Charlemagne  to  demand  the 
hand  of  his  niece  for  Leo,  his  son,  and  the  heir  to  his 
dominions.  Duke  Aymon,  her  father,  had  only  re- 
served his  consent  until  he  should  first  have  spoken 
with  his  son  Rinaldo,  now  absent. 

The  warriors  now  prepared  to  resume  their  voyage. 
Rogero  took  a  tender  farewell  of  the  good  hermit  who 
had  taught  him  the  true  faith.  Orlando  restored  to 
him  the  horse  and  arms  which  were  rightly  his,  not 
even  asserting  his  claim  to  Balisarda,  that  sword  which 
he  himself  had  won  from  the  enchantress. 

The  hermit  gave  his  blessing  to  the  band,  and  they 
reembarked.  The  passage  was  speedy,  and  very  soon 
they  arrived  in  the  harbor  of  Marseilles. 

Astolpho,  when  he  had  dismissed  his  troops, 
mounted  the  Hippogriff,  and  at  one  flight  shot  over  to 
Sardinia,  thence  to  Corsica,  thence,  turning  slightly  to 
the  left,  hovered  over  Provence,  and  alighted  in  the 


1 70         LEGENDS   OP    CHARLEMAGNE. 

neighborhood  of  Marseilles.  There  he  did  what  he 
had  been  commanded  to  do  by  the  holy  saint  ;  he  un- 
bridled the  Hippogriff,  and  turned  him  loose  to  seek 
his  own  retreats,  never  more  to  be  galled  with  saddle 
or  bit.  The  horn  had  lost  its  marvellous  power  ever 
since  the  visit  to  the  moon. 

Astolpho  reached  Marseilles  the  very  day  when 
Orlando,  Rinaldo,  Oliver,  Sobrino,  and  Rogero  arrived 
there.  Charles  had  already  heard  the  news  of  the 
defeat  of  the  Saracen  kings,  and  all  the  accompanying 
events.  On  learning  the  approach  of  the  gallant 
knights,  he  sent  forward  some  of  his  most  illustrious 
nobles  to  receive  them,  and  himself,  with  the  rest  of 
his  court,  kings,  dukes,  and  peers,  the  queen,  and  a 
fair  and  gorgeous  band  of  ladies,  set  forward  from  Aries 
to  meet  them. 

No  sooner  were  the  mutual  greetings  interchanged, 
than  Orlando  and  his  friends  led  forward  Rogero,  and 
presented  him  to  the  Emperor.  They  vouch  him  son 
of  Rogero,  Duke  of  Risa,  one  of  the  most  renowned 
of  Christian  warriors,  by  adverse  fortune  stolen  in  his 
infancy,  and  brought  up  by  Saracens  in  the  false  faith, 
now  by  a  kind  Providence  converted,  and  restored  to 
fill  the  place  his  father  once  held  among  the  foremost 
champions  of  the  throne  and  Church. 

Rogero  had  alighted  from  his  horse,  and  stood 
respectfully  before  the  Emperor.  Charlemagne  bade 
him  remount  and  ride  beside  him  ;  and  omitted  nothing 
which  might  do  him  honor  in  sight  of  his  martial  train. 
With  pomp  triumphal  and  with  festive  cheer  the  troop 
returned  to  the  city  ;  the  streets  were  decorated  with 
garlands,  the  houses  hung  with  rich  tapestry,  and 
flowers  fell  like  rain  upon  the  conquering  host  from  the 
hands  of  fair  dames  and  damsels,  from  every  balcony 


ROGERO    AND    BRADAMANTE.  17 1 

and  window.  So  welcomed,  the  mighty  Emperor 
passed  on  till  he  reached  the  royal  palace,  where  many 
days  he  feasted,  high  in  hall,  with  his  lords,  amid 
tourney,  revel,  dance,  and  song. 

When  Rinaldo  told  his  father,  Duke  Aymon,  how 
he  had  promised  his  sister  to  Rogero,  his  father  heard 
him  with  indignation,  having  set  his  heart  on  seeing  her 
united  to  the  Grecian  Emperor's  son.  The  Lady 
Beatrice,  her  mother,  also  appealed  to  Bradamante 
herself  to  reject  a  knight  who  had  neither  title  nor 
lands,  and  give  the  preference  to  one  who  would  make 
her  Empress  of  the  wide  Levant.  But  Bradamante, 
though  respect  forbade  her  to  refuse  her  mother's  en- 
treaty, would  not  promise  to  do  what  her  heart  repelled, 
and  answered  only  with  a  sigh,  until  she  was  alone, 
and  then  gave  a  loose  to  tears. 

Meanwhile  Rogero,  indignant  that  a  stranger  should 
presume  to  rob  him  of  his  bride,  determined  to  seek 
the  Prince  of  Greece,  and  defy  him  to  mortal  combat. 
With  this  design  he  donned  his  armor,  but  exchanged 
his  crest  and  emblazonment,  and  bore  instead  a  white 
unicorn  upon  a  crimson  field.  He  chose  a  trusty 
squire,  and,  commanding  him  not  to  address  him  as 
Rogero,  rode  on  his  quest.  Having  crossed  the  Rhine 
and  the  Austrian  countries  into  Hungary,  he  followed 
the  course  of  the  Danube  till  he  reached  Belgrade. 
There  he  saw  the  imperial  ensigns  spread,  and  white 
pavilions,  thronged  with  troops,  before  the  town.  For 
the  Emperor  Constantine  was  laying  siege  to  the  city 
to  recover  it  from  the  Bulgarians,  who  had  taken  it 
from  him  not  long  before. 

A  river  flowed  between  the  camp  of  the  Emperor 
and  the  Bulgarians,  and  at  the  moment  when  Rogero 
approached,  a  skirmish  had  begun  between  the  parties 


1 72         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

from  either  camp,  who  had  approached  the  stream  for 
the  purpose  of  watering.  The  Greeks  in  that  affray 
were  four  to  one,  and  drove  back  the  Bulgarians  in 
precipitate  rout.  Rogero,  seeing  this,  and  animated 
only  by  his  hatred  of  the  Grecian  prince,  dashed  into 
the  middle  of  the  flying  mass,  calling  aloud  on  the 
fugitives  to  turn.  He  encountered  first  a  leader  of 
the  Grecian  host  in  splendid  armor,  a  nephew  of  the 
Emperor,  as  dear  to  him  as  a  son.  Rogero' s  lance 
pierced  shield  and  armor,  and  stretched  the  warrior 
breathless  on  the  plain.  Another  and  another  fell 
before  him,  and  astonishment  and  terror  arrested  the 
advance  of  the  Greeks,  while  the  Bulgarians,  catch- 
ing courage  from  the  cavalier,  rally,  change  front, 
and  chase  the  Grecian  troops,  who  fly  in  their  turn. 
Leo,  the  prince,  was  at  a  distance  when  this  sudden 
skirmish  rose,  but  not  so  far  but  that  he  could  see 
distinctly,  from  an  elevated  position  which  he  held, 
how  the  changed  battle  was  all  the  work  of  one  man, 
and  could  not  choose  but  admire  the  bravery  and 
prowess  with  which  it  was  done.  He  knew  by  the 
blazonry  displayed  that  the  champion  was  not  of 
the  Bulgarian  army,  though  he  furnished  aid  to  them. 
Although  he  suffered  by  his  valor,  the  prince  could 
not  wish  him  ill,  for  his  admiration  surpassed  his  re- 
sentment. By  this  time  the  Greeks  had  regained  the 
river,  and  crossing  it  by  fording  or  swimming,  some 
made  their  escape,  leaving  many  more  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  the  Bulgarians.  Rogero,  learning  from 
some  of  the  captives  that  Leo  was  at  a  point  some 
distance  down  the  river,  rode  thither  with  a  view  to 
meet  him,  but  arrived  not  before  the  Greek  prince 
had  retired  beyond  the  stream,  and  broken  up  the 
bridge.  Day  was  spent,  and  Rogero,  wearied,  looked 


ROGERO    AND    BRADAMANTE.  173 

round  for  a  shelter  for  the  night.  He  found  it  in  a 
cottage,  where  he  soon  yielded  himself  to  repose.  It 
so  happened,  a  knight  who  had  narrowly  escaped 
Rogero's  sword  in  the  late  battle  also  found  shelter 
in  the  same  cottage,  and,  recognizing  the  armor  of 
the  unknown  knight,  easily  found  means  of  securing 
him  as  he  slept,  and  next  morning  carried  him  in 
chains  and  delivered  him  to  the  Emperor.  By  him 
he  was  in  turn  delivered  to  his  sister  Theodora,  mother 
of  the  young  knight,  the  first  victim  of  Rogero's  spear. 
By  her  he  was  cast  into  a  dungeon,  till  her  ingenuity 
could  devise  a  death  sufficiently  painful  to  satiate  her 
revenge. 

Bradamante,  meanwhile,  to  escape  her  father's  and 
mother's  importunity,  had  begged  a  boon  of  Charle- 
magne, which  the  monarch  pledged  his  royal  word  to 
grant  ;  it  was  that  she  should  not  be  compelled  to 
marry  any  one  unless  he  should  first  vanquish  her  in 
single  combat.  The  Emperor  therefore  proclaimed  a 
tournament  in  these  words:  "He  that  would  wed 
Duke  Aymon's  daughter  must  contend  with  the  sword 
against  that  dame,  from  the  sun's  rise  to  his  setting  ; 
and  if,  in  that  time,  he  is  not  overcome  the  lady  shall 
be  his." 

Duke  Aymon  and  the  Lady  Beatrice,  though  much 
incensed  at  the  course  things  had  taken,  brought  their 
daughter  to  court,  to  await  the  day  appointed  for  the 
tournament.  Bradamante,  not  finding  there  him  whom 
her  heart  required,  distressed  herself  with  doubts  what 
could  be  the  cause  of  his  absence.  Of  all  fancies,  the 
most  painful  one  was  that  he  had  gone  away  to  learn 
to  forget  her,  knowing  her  father's  and  her  mother's 
opposition  to  their  union,  and  despairing  to  contend 
against  them.  But  oh,  how  much  worse  would  be  the 


174         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

maiden's  woe,  if  it  were  known  to  her  what  her  be- 
trothed was  then  enduring  ! 

He  was  plunged  in  a  dungeon  where  no  ray  of  day- 
light ever  penetrated,  loaded  with  chains,  and  scantily 
supplied  with  the  coarsest  food.  No  wonder  despair 
took  possession  of  his  heart,  and  he  longed  for  death  as 
a  relief,  when  one  night  (or  one  day,  for  both  were 
equally  dark  to  him)  he  was  roused  with  the  glare  of 
a  torch  and  saw  two  men  enter  his  cell.  It  was  the 
Prince  Leo,  with  an  attendant,  who  had  come  as  soon 
as  he  had  learned  the  wretched  fate  of  the  brave  knight 
whose  valor  he  had  seen  and  admired  on  the  field  of 
battle.  "  Cavalier,"  said  he,  "  I  am  one  whom  thy 
valor  hath  so  bound  to  thee,  that  I  willingly  peril  my 
own  safety  to  lend  thee  aid."  "  Infinite  thanks  I  owe 
you,"  replied  Rogero,  "  and  the  life  you  give  me  I 
promise  faithfully  to  render  back  upon  your  call,  and 
promptly  to  stake  it  at  all  times  for  your  service." 
The  prince  then  told  Rogero  his  name  and  rank,  at 
hearing  which  a  tide  of  contending  emotions  almost 
overwhelmed  Rogero.  He  was  set  at  liberty,  and  had 
his  horse  and  arms  restored  to  him. 

Meanwhile,  tidings  arrived  of  King  Charles'  decree 
that  whoever  aspired  to  the  hand  of  Bradamante  must 
first  encounter  her  with  sword  and  lance.  This  news 
made  the  Grecian  prince  turn  pale,  for  he  knew  he 
was  no  match  for  her  in  fight.  Communing  with  him- 
self, he  sees  how  he  may  make  his  wit  supply  the  place 
of  valor,  and  employ  the  French  knight,  whose  name 
was  still  unknown  to  him,  to  fight  the  battle  for  him. 
Rogero  heard  the  proposal  with  extreme  distress  ;  yet 
it  seemed  worse  than  death  to  deny  the  first  request 
of  one  to  whom  he  owed  his  life.  Hastily  he  gave 
his  assent  "to  do  in  all  things  that  which  Leo  should 


ROGERO    AND    BRADAMANTE.  175 

command."  Afterward,  bitter  repentance  came  over 
him  ;  yet,  rather  than  confess  his  change  of  mind, 
death  itself  would  be  welcome.  Death  seems  his  only 
remedy  ;  but  how  to  die  ?  Sometimes  he  thinks  to 
make  none  but  a  feigned  resistance,  and  allow  her 
sword  a  ready  access,  for  never  can  death  come  more 
happily  than  if  her  hand  guide  the  weapon.  Yet  this 
will  not  avail,  for,  unless  he  wins  the  maid  for  the 
Greek  prince,  his  debt  remains  unpaid.  He  had  prom- 
ised to  maintain  a  real,  not  a  feigned  encounter.  He 
will  then  keep  his  word,  and  banish  every  thought 
from  his  bosom  except  that  which  moved  him  to  main- 
tain his  truth. 

The  young  prince,  richly  attended,  set  out,  and 
with  him  Rogero.  They  arrived  at  Paris,  but  Leo 
preferred  not  to  enter  the  city,  and  pitched  his  tents 
without  the  walls,  making  known  his  arrival  to 
Charlemagne  by  an  embassy.  The  monarch  was 
pleased,  and  testified  his  courtesy  by  visits  and  gifts. 
The  prince  set  forth  the  purpose  of  his  coming,  and 
prayed  the  Emperor  to  dispatch  his  suit  —  "  to  send 
forth  the  damsel  who  refused  ever  to  take  in  wedlock 
any  lord  inferior  to  herself  in  fight ;  for  she  should  be 
his  bride,  or  he  would  perish  beneath  her  sword." 

Rogero  passed  the  night  before  the  day  assigned 
for  the  battle  like  that  which  the  felon  spends,  con- 
demned to  pay  the  forfeit  of  his  life  on  the  ensuing 
day.  He  chose  to  fight  with  sword  only,  and  on  foot, 
for  he  would  not  let  her  see  Frontino,  knowing  that 
she  would  recognize  the  steed.  Nor  would  he  use 
Balisarda,  for  against  that  enchanted  blade  all  armor 
would  be  of  no  avail,  and  the  sword  that  he  did  take 
he  hammered  well  upon  the  edge  to  abate  its  sharp- 
ness. He  wore  the  surcoat  of  Prince  Leo,  and  his 


176         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

shield,  emblazoned  with  a  golden,  double-headed  eagle. 
The  prince  took  care  to  let  himself  be  seen  by  none. 

Bradamante,  meanwhile,  prepared  herself  for  the 
combat  far  differently.  Instead  of  blunting  the  edge 
of  her  falchion  she  whets  the  steel,  and  would  fain 
infuse  into  it  her  own  acerbity.  As  the  moment  ap- 
proached she  seemed  to  have  fire  within  her  veins, 
and  waited  impatiently  for  the  trumpet's  sound.  At 
the  signal  she  drew  her  sword,  and  fell  with  fury 
upon  her  Rogero.  But  as  a  well-built  wall  or  aged 
rock  stands  unmoved  the  fury  of  the  storm,  so  Rogero, 
clad  in  those  arms  which-  Trojan  Hector  once  wore, 
withstood  the  strokes  which  stormed  about  his  head 
and  breast  and  flank.  Sparks  flew  from  his  shield, 
his  helm,  his  cuirass  ;  from  direct  and  back  strokes, 
aimed  now  high,  now  low,  falling  thick  and  fast,  like 
hailstones  on  a  cottage  roof;  but  Rogero,  with  skilful 
ward,  turns  them  aside,  or  receives  them  where  his 
armor  is  a  sure  protection,  careful  only  to  protect  him- 
self, and  with  no  thought  of  striking  in  return.  Thus 
the  hours  passed  away,  and,  as  the  sun  approached  the 
west,  the  damsel  began  to  despair.  But  so  much  the 
more  her  anger  increases,  and  she  redoubles  her  ef- 
forts, like  the  craftsman  who  sees  his  work  unfinished 
while  the  day  is  wellnigh  spent.  O  miserable  dam- 
sel !  didst  thou  know  whom  thou  wouldst  kill,  —  if, 
in  that  cavalier  matched  against  thee  thou  didst  but 
know  Rogero,  on  whom  thy  very  life-threads  hang, 
rather  than  kill  him  thou  wouldst  kill  thyself,  for  he 
is  dearer  to  thee  than  life. 

King  Charles  and  the  peers,  who  thought  the  cava- 
lier to  be  the  Grecian  prince,  viewing  such  force  and 
skill  exhibited,  and  how  without  assaulting  her  the 
knight  defended  himself,  were  filled  with  admiration, 


ROGERO   AND    BRADAMANTE.  177 

and  declared  the  champions  well  matched,  and  worthy 
of  each  other. 

When  the  sun  was  set  Charlemagne  gave  the  sig- 
nal for  terminating  the  contest,  and  Bradamante  was 
awarded  to  Prince  Leo  as  a  bride.  Rogero,  in  deep 
distress,  returned  to  his  tent.  There  Leo  unlaced  his 
helmet,  and  kissed  him  on  both  cheeks.  "  Hence- 
forth," said  he,  "  do  with  me  as  you  please,  for  you 
cannot  exhaust  my  gratitude."  Rogero  replied  little, 
laid  aside  the  ensigns  he  had  worn,  and  resumed  the 
unicorn,  then  hasted  to  withdraw  himself  from  all 
eyes.  When  it  was  midnight  he  rose,  saddled  Fron- 
tino,  and  sallied  from  his  tent,  taking  that  direction 
which  pleased  his  steed.  All  night  he  rode  absorbed 
in  bitter  woe,  and  called  on  Death  as  alone  capable 
of  relieving  his  sufferings.  At  last  he  entered  a 
forest,  and  penetrated  into  its  deepest  recesses.  There 
he  unharnessed  Frontino,  and  suffered  him  to  wander 
where  he  would.  Then  he  threw  himself  down  on 
the  ground,  and  poured  forth  such  bitter  wailings  that 
the  birds  and  beasts,  for  none  else  heard  him,  were 
moved  to  pity  with  his  cries. 

Not  less  was  the  distress  of  the  lady  Bradamante, 
who,  rather  than  wed  any  one  but  Rogero,  resolved 
to  break  her  word,  and  defy  kindred,  court,  and 
Charlemagne  himself ;  and,  if  nothing  else  would  do, 
to  die.  But  relief  came  from  an  unexpected  quarter. 
Marphisa,  sister  of  Rogero,  was  a  heroine  of  warlike 
prowess  equal  to  Bradamante.  She  had  been  the 
confidante  of  their  loves,  and  felt  hardly  less  distress 
than  themselves  at  seeing  the  perils  which  threatened 
their  union.  "They  are  already  united  by  mutual 
vows,"  she  said,  "and  in  the  sight  of  Heaven  what 
more  is  necessary  ?  "  Full  of  this  thought  she  pre- 


1/8         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE 

sented  herself  before  Charlemagne,  and  declared  that 
she  herself  was  witness  that  the  maiden  had  spoken  to 
Rogero  those  words  which  they  who  marry  swear  ; 
and  that  the  compact  was  so  sealed  between  the  pair 
that  they  were  no  longer  free,  nor  could  forsake  the 
one  the  other  to  take  another  spouse.  This  her 
assertion  she  offered  to  prove,  in  single  combat,  against 
Prince  Leo,  or  any  one  else. 

Charlemagne,  sadly  perplexed  at  this,  commanded 
Bradamante  to  be  called,  and  told  her  what  the  bold 
Marphisa  had  declared.  Bradamante  neither  denied 
nor  confirmed  the  statement,  but  hung  her  head,  and 
kept  silence.  Duke  Aymon  was  enraged,  and  would 
fain  have  set  aside  the  pretended  contract  on  the 
ground 'that,  if  made  at  all,  it  must  have  been  made 
before  Rogero  was  baptized,  and  therefore  void.  But 
not  so  thought  Rinaldo,  nor  the  good  Orlando,  and 
Charlemagne  knew  not  which  way  to  decide,  when 
Marphisa  spoke  thus  : 

"  Since  no  one  else  can  marry  the  maiden  while 
my  brother  lives,  let  the  prince  meet  Rogero  in  mor- 
tal combat,  and  let  him  who  survives  take  her  for 
his  bride." 

This  saying  pleased  the  Emperor,  and  was  accepted 
by  the  prince,  for  he  thought  that,  by  the  aid  of  his 
unknown  champion,  he  should  surely  triumph  in  the 
fight.  Proclamation  was  therefore  made  for  Rogero 
to  appear  and  defend  his  suit  ;  and  Leo,  on  his  part, 
caused  search  to  be  made  on  al!  sides  for  the  knight 
of  the  Unicorn. 

Meanwhile  Rogero,  overwhelmed  with  despair,  lay 
stretched  on  the  ground  in  the  forest  night  and  day 
without  food,  courting  death.  Here  he  was  discovered 
by  one  of  Leo's  people,  who,  finding  him  resist  all 


ROGERO    AND    BRADAMANTE.  179 

attempts  to  remove  him,  hastened  to  his  master,  who 
was  not  far  off,  and  brought  him  to  the  spot.  As  he 
approached  he  heard  words  which  convinced  him  that 
love  was  the  cause  of  the  knight's  despair  ;  but  no 
clew  was  given  to  guide  him  to  the  object  of  that  love. 
Stooping  down,  the  prince  embraced  the  weeping  war- 
rior, and,  in  the  tenderest  accents,  said  :  "  Spare  not, 
I  entreat  you,  to  disclose  the  cause  of  your  distress, 
for  few  such  desperate  evils  betide  mankind  as  are 
wholly  past  cure.  It  grieves  me  much  that  you 
would  hide  your  grief  from  me,  for  I  am  bound  to  you 
by  ties  that  nothing  can  undo.  Tell  me,  then,  your 
grief,  and  leave  me  to  try  if  wealth,  art,  cunning, 
force,  or  persuasion  cannot  relieve  you.  If  not,  it  will 
be  time  enough  after  all  has  been  tried  in  vain  to 
die." 

He  spoke  in  such  moving  accents  that  Rogero 
coald  not  choose  but  yield.  It  was  some  time  before 
he  could  command  utterance  ;  at  last  he  said,  "  My 
lord,  when  you  shall  know  me  for  what  I  am,  I  doubt 
not  you,  like  myself,  will  be  content  that  I  should  die. 
Know,  then,  I  am  that  Rogero  v/hom  you  have  so 
much  cause  to  hate,  and  who  so  hated  you  that,  in- 
tent on  putting  you  to  death,  he  went  to  seek  you  at 
your  father's  court.  This  I  did  because  I  could  not 
submit  to  see  my  promised  bride  borne  off  by  you. 
But,  as  man  proposes  and  God  disposes,  your  great 
courtesy,  well  tried  in  time  of  sore  need,  so  moved 
my  fixed  resolve,  that  I  not  only  laid  aside  the  hate  I 
bore,  but  purposed  to  be  your  friend  forever.  You 
then  asked  of  me  to  win  for  you  the  lady  Bradamante, 
which  was  all  one  as  to  demand  of  me  my  heart  and 
soul.  You  know  whether  I  served  you  faithfully  or 
not.  Yours  is  the  lady  ;  possess  her  in  peace  ;  but 


l8o         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

ask  me  not  to  live  to  see  it.  Be  content  rather  that  I 
die  ;  for  vows  have  passed  between  myself  and  her 
which  forbid  that  while  I  live  she  can  lawfully  wive 
with  another." 

So  filled  was  gentle  Leo  with  astonishment  at  these 
words  that  for  a  while  he  stood  silent,  with  lips  un- 
moved and  steadfast  gaze,  like  a  statue.  And  the  dis- 
covery that  the  stranger  was  Rogero  not  only  abated 
not  the  good  will  he  bore  him,  but  increased  it,  so 
that  his  distress  for  what  Rogero  suffered  seemed  equal 
to  his  own.  For  this,  and  because  he  would  appear 
deservedly  an  Emperor's  son,  and,  though  in  other 
things  outdone,  would  not  be  surpassed  in  courtesy, 
he  says  :  "  Rogero,  had  I  known  that  day  when  your 
matchless  valor  routed  my  troops  that  you  were 
Rogero,  your  virtue  would  have  made  me  your  own, 
as  then  it  made  me  while  I  knew  not  my  foe,  and  I 
should  have  no  less  gladly  rescued  you  from  Theodora's 
dungeon.  And  if  I  would  willingly  have  done  so 
then,  how  much  more  gladly  will  I  now  restore  the 
gift  of  which  you  would  rob  yourself  to  confer  it  upon 
me.  The  damsel  is  more  due  to  you  than  to  me,  and 
though  I  know  her  worth,  I  would  forego  not  only 
her,  but  life  itself,  rather  than  distress  a  knight  like 
you." 

This  and  much  more  he  said  to  the  same  intent  ; 
till  at  last  Rogero  replied,  "  I  yield,  and  am  content  to 
live,  and  thus  a  second  time  owe  my  life  to  you." 

But  several  days  elapsed  before  Rogero  was  so  far 
restored  as  to  return  to  the  royal  residence,  where  an 
embassy  had  arrived  from  the  Bulgarian  princes  to  seek 
the  knight  of  the  unicorn,  and  tender  to  him  the 
crown  of  that  country,  in  place  of  their  king,  fallen  in 
battle. 


ROGERO   AND    BRADAMANTE.          181 

Thus  were  things  situated  when  Prince  Leo,  leading 
by  the  hand  Rogero,  clad  in  the  battered  armor  in 
which  he  had  sustained  the  conflict  with  Bradamante, 
presented  himself  before  the  king.  "Behold,"  he  said, 
"  the  champion  who  maintained  from  dawn  to  setting 
sun  the  arduous  contest  ;  he  comes  to  claim  the  guer- 
don of  the  fight."  King  Charlemagne,  with  all  his 
peerage,  stood  amazed  ;  for  all  believed  that  the  Gre- 
cian prince  himself  had  fought  with  Bradamante. 
Then  stepped  forth  Marphisa,  and  said,  "  Since  Rogero 
is  not  here  to  assert  his  rights,  I,  his  sister,  undertake 
his  cause,  and  will  maintain  it  against  whoever  shall 
dare  dispute  his  claim."  She  said  this  with  so  much 
anger  and  disdain  that  the  prince  deemed  it  no  longer 
wise  to  feign,  and  withdrew  Rogero's  helmet  from  his 
brow,  saying,  "  Behold  him  here  !"  Who  can  de- 
scribe the  astonishment  and  joy  of  Marphisa  !  She 
ran  and  threw  her  arms  about  her  brother's  neck,  nor 
would  give  way  to  let  Charlemagne  and  Rinaldo, 
Orlando,  Dudon,  and  the  rest,  who  crowded  round, 
embrace  him,  and  press  friendly  kisses  on  his  brow. 
The  joyful  tidings  flew  fast  by  many  a  messenger  to 
Bradamante,  who  in  her  secret  chamber  lay  lamenting. 
The  blood  that  stagnated  about  her  heart  flowed  at 
that  notice  so  fast,  that  she  had  wellnigh  died  for  joy. 
Duke  Aymon  and  the  Lady  Beatrice  no  longer  with- 
held their  consent,  and  pledged  their  daughter  to  the 
brave  Rogero  before  all  that  gallant  company. 

Now  came  the  Bulgarian  ambassadors,  and,  kneeling 
at  the  feet  of  Rogero,  besought  him  to  return  with 
them  to  their  country,  where,  in  Adrianople,  the 
crown  and  sceptre  were  awaiting  his  acceptance.  Prince 
Leo  united  his  persuasions  to  theirs,  and  promised,  in 
his  royal  father's  name,  that  peace  should  be  restored 


182         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

on  their  part.  Rogero  gave  his  consent,  and  it  was 
surmised  that  none  of  the  virtues  which  shone  so  con- 
spicuously in  him  so  availed  to  recommend  Rogero  to 
the  Lady  Beatrice  as  the  hearing  her  future  son-in- 
law  saluted  as  a  sovereign  prince. 


THE   BATTLE    OF   RONCESVALLES. 

AFTER  the  expulsion  of  the  Saracens  from  France 
Charlemagne  led  his  army  into  Spain,  to  punish  Mar- 
silius,  the  king  of  that  country,  for  having  sided  with 
the  African  Saracens  in  the  late  war.  Charlemagne 
succeeded  in  all  his  attempts,  and  compelled  Marsilius 
to  submit,  and  pay  tribute  to  France.  Our  readers 
will  remember  Gano,  otherwise  called  Gan,  or  Gane- 
lon,  whom  we  mentioned  in  one  of  our  early  chapters 
as  an  old  courtier  of  Charlemagne,  and  a  deadly  enemy 
of  Orlando,  Rinaldo,  and  all  their  friends.  He  had 
great  influence  over  Charles,  from  equality  of  age  and 
long  intimacy  ;  and  he  was  not  without  good  qualities  : 
he  was  brave  and  sagacious,  but  envious,  false,  and 
treacherous.  Gan  prevailed  on  Charles  to  send  him 
as  ambassador  to  Marsilius,  to  arrange  the  tribute. 
He  embraced  Orlando  over  and  over  again  at  taking 
leave,  using  such  pains  to  seem  loving  and  sincere,  that 
his  hypocrisy  was  manifest  to  every  one  but  the  old 
monarch.  He  fastened  with  equal  tenderness  on 
Oliver,  who  smiled  contemptuously  in  his  face,  and 
thought  to  himself,  "  You  may  make  as  many  fair 
speeches  as  you  choose,  but  you  lie."  All  the  other 
paladins  who  were  present  thought  the  same,  and  they 
said  as  much  to  the  Emperor,  adding  that  Gan  should 


THE   BATTLE   OF   RONCESVALLES.     183 

on  no  account  be  sent  ambassador  to  the  Spaniards. 
But  Charles  was  infatuated. 

Gan  was  received  with  great  honor  by  Marsilius. 
The  king,  attended  by  his  lords,  came  fifteen  miles 
out  of  Saragossa  to  meet  him,  and  then  conducted 
him  into  the  city  with  acclamations.  There  was 
nothing  for  several  days  but  balls,  games,  and  exhibi- 
tions of  chivalry,  the  ladies  throwing  flowers  on  the 
heads  of  the  French  knights,  and  the  people  shouting, 
"  France  !  Mountjoy  and  St.  Denis  !  " 

After  the  ceremonies  of  the  first  reception  the  king 
and  the  ambassador  began  to  understand  one  another. 
One  day  they  sat  together  in  a  garden  on  the  border 
of  a  fountain.  The  water  was  so  clear  and  smooth  it 
reflected  every  object  around,  and  the  spot  was  en- 
circled with  fruit-trees  which  quivered  with  the  fresh 
air.  As  they  sat  and  talked,  as  if  without  restraint, 
Gan,  without  looking  the  king  in  the  face,  was  enabled 
to  see  the  expression  of  his  countenance  in  the  water, 
and  governed  his  speech  accordingly.  Marsilius  was 
equally  adroit,  and  watched  the  face  of  Gan  while  he 
addressed  him.  Marsilius  began  by  lamenting,  not  as 
to  the  ambassador,  but  as  to  the  friend,  the  injuries 
which  Charles  had  done  him  by  invading  his  domin- 
ions, charging  him  with  wishing  to  take  his  kingdom 
from  him  and  give  it  to  Orlando  ;  till  at  length  he 
plainly  utfered  his  belief  that  if  that  ambitious  paladin 
were  but  dead  good  men  would  get  their  rights. 

Gan  heaved  a  sigh,  as  if  he  was  unwillingly  com- 
pelled to  allow  the  force  of  what  the  king  said  ;  but 
unable  to  contain  himself  long  he  lifted  up  his  face, 
radiant  with  triumphant  wickedness,  and  exclaimed  ; 
"  Every  word  you  utter  is  truth  ;  die  he  must,  and  die 
also  must  Oliver,  who  struck  me  that  foul  blow  at 


184         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

court.  Is  it  treachery  to  punish  affronts  like  these  ? 
I  have  .planned  everything,  —  I  have  settled  everything 
already  with  their  besotted  master.  Orlando  will  come 
to  your  borders  —  to  Roncesvalles  —  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  the  tribute.  Charles  will  await  him  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountains.  Orlando  will  bring  but  a  small 
band  with  him  :  you,  when  you  meet  him,  will  have 
secretly  your  whole  army  at  your  back.  You  surround 
him,  and  who  receives  tribute  then  ?  " 

The  new  Judas  had  scarcely  uttered  these  words 
when  his  exultation  was  interrupted  by  a  change  in  the 
face  of  nature.  The  sky  was  suddenly  overcast,  there 
was  thunder  and  lightning,  a  laurel  was  split  in  two 
from  head  to  foot,  and  the  Carob-tree  under  which 
Gan  was  sitting,  which  is  said  to  be  the  species  of  tree 
on  which  Judas  Iscariot  hung  himself,  dropped  one  of 
its  pods  on  his  head. 

Marsilius,  as  well  as  Gan,  was  appalled  at  this 
omen  ;  but  on  assembling  his  soothsayers  they  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  laurel-tree  turned  the  omen 
against  the  Emperor,  the  successor  of  the  Caesars, 
though  one  of  them  renewed  the  consternation  of  Gan 
by  saying  that  he  did  not  understand  the  meaning  of 
the  tree  of  Judas,  and  intimating  that  perhaps  the 
ambassador  could  explain  it.  Gan  relieved  his  vexa- 
tion by  anger  ;  the  habit  of  wickedness  prevailed  over 
all  other  considerations  ;  and  the  king  prepared  to 
march  to  Roncesvalles  at  the  head  of  all  his  forces. 

Gan  wrote  to  Charlemagne  to  say  how  humbly  and 
submissively  Marsilius  was  coming  to  pay  the  tribute 
into  the  hands  of  Orlando,  and  how  handsome  it 
would  be  of  the  Emperor  to  meet  him  half-way,  and 
so  be  ready  to  receive  him  after  the  payment  at  his 
camp.  He  added  a  brilliant  account  of  the  tribute, 


THE  BATTLE  OF  RONCESVALLES.  185 

and  the  accompanying  presents.  The  good  Emperor 
wrote  in  turn  to  say  how  pleased  he  was  with  the 
ambassador's  diligence,  and  that  matters  were  arranged 
precisely  as  he  wished.  His  court,  however,  had 
its  suspicion  still,  though  they  little  thought  Can's 
object  in  bringing  Charles  into  the  neighborhood  of 
Roncesvalles  was  to  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of 
Marsilius,  after  Orlando  should  have  been  destroyed 
by  him. 

Orlando,  however,  did  as  his  lord  and  sovereign 
desired.  He  went  to  Roncesvalles,  accompanied  by  a 
moderate  train  of  warriors,  not  dreaming  of  the  atrocity 
that  awaited  him.  Gan,  meanwhile,  had  hastened 
back  to  France,  in  order  to  show  himself  free  and  easy 
in  the  presence  of  Charles,  and  secure  the  success  of 
his  plot  ;  while  Marsilius,  to  make  assurance  doubly 
sure,  brought  into  the  passes  of  Roncesvalles  no  less 
than  three  armies,  which  were  successively  to  fall  on 
the  paladin  in  case  of  the  worst,  and  so  extinguish  him 
with  numbers.  He  had  also,  by  Can's  advice,  brought 
heaps  of  wine  and  good  cheer  to  be  set  before  his 
victims  in  the  first  instance;  "for  that,"  said  the 
traitor,  "will  render  the  onset  the  more  effective,  the 
feasters  being  unarmed.  One  thing,  however,  I  must 
not  forget,"  added  he;  "my  son  Baldwin  is  sure  to 
be  with  Orlando  ;  you  must  take  care  of  his  life  for  my 
sake." 

"  I  give  him  this  vesture  off  my  own  body,"  said  the 
king  ;  "let  him  wear  it  in  the  battle,  and  have  no 
fear.  My  soldiers  shall  be  directed  not  to  touch  him." 

Gan  went  away  rejoicing  to  France.  He  embraced 
the  sovereign  and  the  court  all  round  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  had  brought  them  nothing  but  blessings,  and 
the  old  king  wept  for  very  tenderness  and  delight. 


1 86         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

"Something  is  going  on  wrong,  and  looks  very 
black,"  thought  Malagigi,  the  good  wizard  ;  "  Rinaldo 
is  not  here,  and  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that  he 
should  be.  I  must  find  out  where  he  is,  and  Ricci- 
ardetto  too,  and  send  for  them  with  all  speed." 

Malagigi  called  up  by  his  art  a  wise,  terrible,  and 
cruel  spirit,  named  Ashtaroth.  "Tell  me,  and  tell 
me  truly,  of  Rinaldo,"  said  Malagigi  to  the  spirit. 
The  demon  looked  hard  at  the  paladin,  and  said  noth- 
ing. His  aspect  was  clouded  and  violent. 

The  enchanter,  with  an  aspect  still  cloudier,  bade 
Ashtaroth  lay  down  that  look,  and  made  signs  as  if 
he  would  resort  to  angrier  compulsion  ;  and  the  devil, 
alarmed,  loosened  his  tongue,  and  said,  "  You  have 
not  told  me  what  you  desire  to  know  of  Rinaldo." 

"I  desire  to  know  what  he  has  been  doing,  and 
where  he  is." 

"He  has  been  conquering  and  baptizing  the  world, 
east  and  west,"  said  the  demon,  "  and  is  now  in 
Egypt  with  Ricciardetto. " 

"  And  what  has  Gan  been  plotting  with  Mar- 
silius  ?  "  inquired  Malagigi  ;  "  and  what  is  to  come 
of  it?" 

"  I  know  not,"  said  the  devil.  "  I  was  not  at- 
tending to  Gan  at  the  time,  and  we  fallen  spirits  know 
not  the  future.  All  I  discern  is  that  by  the  signs  and 
comets  in  the  heavens  something  dreadful  is  about  to 
happen  —  something  very  strange,  treacherous,  and 
bloody  ;  and  that  Gan  has  a  seat  ready  prepared  for 
him  in  hell."  ' 

"  Within  three  days,"  cried  the  enchanter,  loudly, 
"  bring  Rinaldo  and  Ricciardetto  into  the  pass  of 
Roncesvalles.  Do  it,  and  I  hereby  undertake  to 
summon  thee  no  more." 


THE    BATTLE   OF   RONCESVALLES.     187 

"  Suppose  they  will  not  trust  themselves  with  me  ?  " 
said  the  spirit. 

"  Enter  Rinaldo's  horse,  and  bring  him,  whether  he 
trust  thee  or  not." 

"It  shall  be  done,"  returned  the  demon. 

There  was  an  earthquake,  and  Ashtaroth  disap- 
peared. 

Marsilius  now  made  his  first  movement  towards  the 
destruction  of  Orlando,  by  sending  before  him  his 
vassal,  King  Blanchardin,  with  his  presents  of  wines 
and  other  luxuries.  The  temperate  but  courteous  hero 
took  them  in  good  part,  and  distributed  them  as  the 
traitor  wished  ;  and  then  Blanchardin,  on  pretence  of 
going  forward  to  salute  Charlemagne,  returned,  and 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  second  army,  which 
was  the  post  assigned  him  by  his  liege-lord.  King 
Falseron,  whose  son  Orlando  had  slain  in  battle, 
headed  the  first  army,  and  King  Balugante  the  third. 
Marsilius  made  a  speech  to  them,  in  which  he  let  them 
into  his  design,  and  concluded  by  recommending  to 
their  good  will  the  son  of  his  friend  Gan,  whom  they 
would  know  by  the  vest  he  had  sent  him,  and  who 
was  the  only  soul  amongst  the  Christian  they  were  to 
spare. 

This  son  of  Gan,  meanwhile,  and  several  of  the 
paladins,  who  distrusted  the  misbelievers,  and  were 
anxious  at  all  events  to  be  with  Orlando,  had  joined 
the  hero  in  the  fatal  valley  ;  so  that  the  little  Christian 
host,  considering  the  tremendous  valor  of  their  lord  and 
his  friends,  were  not  to  be  sold  for  nothing.  Rinaldo, 
alas  !  the  second  thunderbolt  of  Christendom,  was 
destined  not  to  be  there  in  time  to  meet  the  issue. 
The  paladins  in  vain  begged  Orlando  to  be  on  his 


1 88         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

guard  against  treachery,  and  send  for  a  more  numerous 
body  of  men.  The  great  heart  of  the  Champion  of 
the  Faith  was  unwilling  to  harbor  suspicion  as  long  as 
he  could  help  it.  He  refused  to  summon  aid  which 
might  be  superfluous  ;  neither  would  he  do  anything 
but  what  his  liege-lord  had  directed.  And  yet  he 
could  not  wholly  repress  a  misgiving.  A  shadow  had 
fallen  on  his  heart,  great  and  cheerful  as  it  was.  The 
anticipations  of  his  friends  disturbed  him,  in  spite  of 
the  face  with  which  he  met  them.  Perhaps  by  a 
certain  foresight  he  felt  his  death  approaching  ;  but  he 
felt  bound  not  to  encourage  the  impression.  Besides, 
time  pressed  ;  the  moment  of  the  looked-for  tribute  was 
at  hand,  and  little  combinations  of  -circumstances 
determine  often  the  greatest  events. 

King  Marsilius  was  to  arrive  early  next  day  with  the 
tribute,  and  Oliver,  with  the  morning  sun,  rode  forth 
to  reconnoitre,  and  see  if  he  could  discover  the  peace- 
ful pomp  of  the  Spanish  court  in  the  distance.  He 
rode  up  the  nearest  height,  and  from  the  top  of  it  be- 
held the  first  army  of  Marsilius  already  forming  in  the 
passes.  "  O  devil  Gan,"  he  exclaimed,  "  this  then 
is  the  consummation  of  thy  labors  ! ' '  Oliver  put 
spurs  to  his  horse,  and  galloped  back  down  the  moun- 
tain to  Orlando. 

"  Well,"  cried  the  hero,  "  what  news  ?  " 

"  Bad  news,"  said  his  cousin,  "  such  as  you  would 
not  hear  of  yesterday.  Marsilius  is  here  in  arms,  and 
all  the  world  is  with  him." 

The  paladins  pressed  round  Orlando,  and  entreated 
him  to  sound  his  horn,  in  token  that  he  needed  help. 
His  only  answer  was  to  mount  his  horse,  and  ride  up 
the  mountain  with  Sansonetto. 

As  soon,  however,  as  he  cast  forth  his  eyes,  and 


THE    BATTLE    OF   RONCESVALLES.     189 

beheld  what  was  round  about  him,  he  turned  in  sor- 
row, and  looked  down  into  Roncesvalles,  and  said, 
"  O  miserable  valley  !  the  blood  shed  in  thee  this  day 
will  color  thy  name  forever." 

Orlando's  little  camp  were  furious  against  the  Sara- 
cens. They  armed  themselves  with  the  greatest  im- 
patience. There  was  nothing  but  lacing  of  helmets 
and  mounting  of  horses,  while  good  Archbishop  Tur- 
pin  went  from  rank  to  rank  exhorting  and  encouraging 
the  warriors  of  Christ.  Orlando  and  his  captains 
withdrew  for  a  moment  to  consultation.  He  fairly 
groaned  for  sorrow,  and  at  first  had  not  a  word  to  say, 
so  wretched  he  felt  at  having  brought  his  people  to  die 
in  Roncesvalles.  Then  he  said  :  "  If  it  had  entered 
into  my  heart  to  conceive  the  king  of  Spain  to  be  such 
a  villain  never  would  you  have  seen  this  day.  He 
has  exchanged  with  me  a  thousand  courtesies  and  good 
words  ;  and  I  thought  that  the  worse  enemies  we 
had  been  before  the  better  friends  we  had  become 
now.  I  fancied  every  human  being  capable  of  this 
kind  of  virtue  on  a  good  opportunity,  saving,  indeed, 
such  base-hearted  wretches  as  can  never  forgive  their 
very  forgivers  ;  and  of  these  I  did  not  suppose  him  to 
be  one.  Let  us  die,  if  die  we  must,  like  honest  and 
gallant  men,  so  that  it  shall  be  said  of  us  it  was  only 
our  bodies  that  died.  The  reason  why  I  did  not 
sound  the  horn  was  partly  because  I  thought  it  did  not 
become  us,  and  partly  because  our  liege  lord  could 
hardly  save  us,  even  if  he  heard  it."  And  with  these 
words  Orlando  sprang  to  his  horse,  crying,  "  Away, 
against  the  Saracens  !  "  But  he  had  no  sooner  turned 
his  face  than  he  wept  bitterly,  and  said,  *'  O  Holy 
Virgin,  think  not  of  me,  the  sinner  Orlando,  but  have 
pity  on  these  thy  servants  ! " 


190         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

And  now  with  a  mighty  dust,  and  an  infinite  sound 
of  horns  and  tambours,  which  came  filling  the  valley, 
the  first  army  of  the  infidels  made  its  appearance, 
horses  neighing,  and  a  thousand  pennons  flying  in  the 
air.  King  Falseron  led  them  on,  saying  to  his  of- 
ficers :  "  Let  nobody  dare  to  lay  a  finger  on  Orlando. 
He  belongs  to  myself.  The  revenge  of  my  son's 
death  is  mine.  I  will  cut  the  man  down  that  comes 
between  us." 

"  Now,  friends,"  said  Orlando,  "  every  man  for 
himself,  and  St.  Michael  for  us  all  !  There  is  not  one 
here  that  is  not  a  perfect  knight."  And  he  might  well 
say  it,  for  the  flower  of  all  France  was  there,  except 
Rinaldo  and  Ricciardetto  —  every  man  a  picked  man, 
all  friends  and  constant  companions  of  Orlando. 

So  the  captains  of  the  little  troop  and  of  the  great 
army  sat  looking  at  one  another,  and  singling  one  an- 
other out  as  the  latter  came  on,  and  then  the  knights 
put  spear  in  rest,  and  ran  for  a  while  two  and  two  in 
succession,  one  against  the  other. 

Astolpho  was  the  first  to  move.  He  ran  against 
Arlotto  of  Soria,  and  thrust  his  antagonist's  body  out 
of  the  saddle,  and  his  soul  into  the  other  world.  Oli- 
ver encountered  Malprimo,  and,  though  he  received  a 
thrust  which  hurt  him,  sent  his  lance  right  through  the 
heart  of  Malprimo. 

Falseron  was  daunted  at  this  blow.  "  Truly," 
thought  he,  "this  is  a  marvel."  Oliver  did  not  press 
on  among  the  Saracens,  his  wound  was  too  painful  ; 
but  Orlando  now  put  himself  and  his  whole  band  in 
motion,  and  you  may  guess  what  an  uproar  ensued. 
The  sound  of  the  rattling  of  blows  and  helmets  was  as 
if  the  forge  of  Vulcan  had  been  thrown  open.  Fal- 
seron beheld  Orlando  coming  so  furiously,  that  he 


THE   BATTLE   OF   RONCESVALLES.     191 

thought  him  a  Lucifer  who  had  burst  his  chain,  and 
was  quite  of  another  mind  than  when  he  purposed  to 
have  him  all  to  himself.  On  the  contrary,  he  recom- 
mended himself  to  his  gods,  and  turned  away,  meaning 
to  wait  for  a  more  auspicious  season  of  revenge.  But 
Orlando  hailed  him  with  a  terrible  voice,  saying,  «« O 
thou  traitor  !  was  this  the  end  to  which  old  quarrels 
were  made  up  ?  "  Then  he  dashed  at  Falseron  with  a 
fury  so  swift,  and  at  the  same  time  with  a  mastery  of  his 
lance  so  marvellous,  that,  though  he  plunged  it  in  the 
man's  body  so  as  instantly  to  kill  him,  and  then  with- 
drew it,  the  body  did  not  move  in  the  saddle.  The 
hero  himself,  as  he  rushed  onwards,  was  fain  to  see 
the  end  of  a  stroke  so  perfect,  and  turning  his  horse 
back,  touched  the  carcass  with  his  sword,  and  it  fell 
on  the  instant  ! 

When  the  infidels  beheld  their  leader  dead  such 
fear  fell  upon  them  that  they  were  for  leaving  the  field 
to  the  paladins,  but  they  were  unable.  Marsilius  had 
drawn  the  rest  of  his  forces  round  the  valley  like  a 
net,  so  that  their  shoulders  were  turned  in  vain. 
Orlando  rode  into  the  thick  of  them,  and  wherever 
he  went  thunderbolts  fell  upon  helmets.  Oliver  was 
again  in  the  fray,  with  Walter  and  Baldwin,  Avino 
and  Avolio,  while  Archbishop  Turpin  had  changed  his 
crosier  for  a  lance,  and  chased  a  new  flock  before  him 
to  the  mountains. 

Yet  what  could  be  done  against  foes  without  num- 
ber ?  Marsilius  constantly  pours  them  in.  The  pala- 
dins are  as  units  to  thousands.  Why  tarry  the  horses 
of  Rinaldo  and  Ricciardetto  ? 

The  horses  did  not  tarry,  but  fate  had  been  quicker 
than  enchantment.  Ashtaroth  had  presented  himself 
to  Rinaldo  in  Egypt,  and,  after  telling  his  errand,  he 


192         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  Foul-mouth,  his  servant,  entered  the  horses  of 
Rinaldo  and  Ricciardetto,  which  began  to  neigh,  and 
snort,  and  leap  with  the  fiends  within  them,  till  off 
they  flew  through  the  air  over  the  pyramids  and  across 
the  desert,  and  reached  Spain  and  the  scene  of  action 
just  as  Marsilius  brought  up  his  third  army.  The 
two  paladins  on  their  horses  dropped  right  into  the 
midst  of  the  Saracens,  and  began  making  such  havoc 
among  them  that  Marsilius,  who  overlooked  the  fight 
from  a  mountain,  thought  his  soldiers  had  turned 
against  one  another.  Orlando  beheld  it,  and  guessed 
it  could  be  no  other  but  his  cousins,  and  pressed  to 
meet  them.  Oliver  coming  up  at  the  same  moment, 
the  rapture  of  the  whole  party  is  not  to  be  expressed. 
After  a  few  hasty  words  of  explanation  they  were 
forced  to  turn  again  upon  the  enemy,  whose  numbers 
seemed  perfectly  without  limit. 

Orlando,  making  a  bloody  passage  towards  Mar- 
silius, struck  a  youth  on  the  head,  whose  helmet  was 
so  strong  as  to  resist  the  blow,  but  at  the  same  time 
flew  off.  Orlando  prepared  to  strike  a  second  blow, 
when  the  youth  exclaimed,  "  Hold  !  you  loved  my 
father  ;  I  am  Bujaforte  ! ' '  The  paladin  had  never 
seen  Bujaforte,  but  he  saw  the  likeness  to  the  good  old 
man,  his  father,  and  he,  dropped  his  sword.  "  O 
Bujaforte,"  said  he,  "I  loved  him  indeed;  but 
what  does  his  son  do  here  fighting  against  his 
friends?" 

Bujaforte  could  not  at  once  speak  for  weeping. 
As  length  he  said  :  "I  am  forced  to  be  here  by  my 
lord  and  master,  Marsilius  ;  and  I  have  made  a  show 
of  fighting,  but  have  not  hurt  a  single  Christian. 
Treachery  is  on  every  side  of  you.  Baldwin  himself 
has  a  vest  given  him  by  Marsilius,  that  everybody 


THE   BATTLE   OF    RONCESVALLES.     193 

may  know  the  son  of  his  friend  Gan,  and  do  him  no 
harm." 

"Put  your  helmet  on  again,"  said  Orlando,  "and 
behave  just  as  you  have  done.  Never  will  your 
father's  friend  be  an  enemy  to  the  son." 

The  hero  then  turned  in  fury  to  look  for  Baldwin, 
who  was  hastening  towards  him  at  that  moment,  with 
friendliness  in  his  looks. 

"  'T  is  strange,"  said  Baldwin,  "I  have  done  my 
duty  as  well  as  I  could,  yet  nobody  will  come  against 
me.  I  have  slain  right  and  left,  and  cannot  compre- 
hend what  it  is  that  makes  the  stoutest  infidels  avoid 
me." 

"Take  off  your  vest,"  said  Orlando,  contemptu- 
ously, "and  you  will  soon  discover  the  secret,  if  you 
wish  to  know  it.  Your  father  has  sold  us  to  Marsilius, 
all  but  his  honorable  son." 

"If  my  father,"  said  Baldwin,  impetuously  tearing 
off  the  vest,  "  has  been  such  a  villain,  and  I  escape 
dying,  I  will  plunge  this  sword  through  his  heart. 
But  I  am  no  traitor,  Orlando,  and  you  do  me  wrong 
to  say  it.  Think  not  I  can  live  with  dishonor." 

Baldwin  spurred  off  into  the  flight,  not  waiting  to 
hear  another  word  from  Orlando,  who  was  very  sorry 
for  what  he  had  said,  for  he  perceived  that  the  youth 
was  in  despair. 

And  now  the  fight  raged  beyond  all  it  had  done 
before  ;  twenty  pagans  went  down  for  one  paladin, 
but  still  the  paladins  fell.  Sansonetto  was  beaten  to 
earth  by  the  club  of  Grandonio,  Walter  d'Amulion 
had  his  shoulder  broken,  Berlinghieri  and  Ottone  were 
slain,  and  at  last  Astolpho  fell,  in  revenge  of  whose 
death  Orlando  turned  the  spot  where  he  died  into  a 
lake  of  Saracen  blood.  The  luckless  Bujaforte  met 


194         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Rinaldo,  and  before  he  could  explain  how  he  seemed 
to  be  fighting  on  the  Saracen  side  received  such  a 
blow  upon  the  head  that  he  fell,  unable  to  utter  a 
word.  Orlando,  cutting  his  way  to  a  spot  where 
there  was  a  great  struggle  and  uproar,  found  the  poor 
youth  Baldwin,  the  son  of  Gan,  with  two  spears  in 
his  breast.  "I  am  no  traitor  now,"  said  Baldwin, 
and  those  were  the  last  words  he  said.  Orlando  was 
bitterly  sorry  to  have  been  the  cause  of  his  death,  and 
tears  streamed  from  his  eyes.  At  length  down  went 
Oliver  himself.  He  had  become  blinded  with  his 
own  blood,  and  smitten  Orlando  without  knowing 
him.  "  How  now,  cousin,"  cried  Orlando,  "have 
you  too  gone  over  to  the  enemy?"  "O  my  lord 
and  master,"  cried  the  other,  "I  ask  your  pardon. 
I  can  see  nothing  ;  I  am  dying.  Some  traitor  has 
stabbed  me  in  the  back.  If  you  love  me,  lead  my . 
horse  into  the  thick  of  them,  so  that  I  may  not  die 
unavenged." 

"I  shall  die  myself  before  long,"  said  Orlando, 
"out  of  very  toil  and  grief;  so  we  will  go  together." 

Orlando  led  his  cousin's  horse  where  the  press  was 
thickest,  and  dreadful  was  the  strength  of  the  dying 
man  and  his  tired  companion.  They  made  a  street 
through  which  they  passed  out  of  the  battle,  and 
Orlando  led  his  cousin  away  to  his  tent,  and  said, 
"  Wait  a  little  till  I  return,  for  I  will  go  and  sound 
the  horn  on  the  hill  yonder." 

"  'Tis  of  no  use,"  said  Oliver,  "  my  spirit  is  fast 
going  and  desires  to  be  with  its  Lord  and  Saviour." 

He  would  have  said  more,  but  his  words  came  from 
him  imperfectly,  like  those  of  a  man  in  a  dream,  and 
so  he  expired. 

When  Orlando  saw  him  dead  he  felt  as  if  he  was 


THE    BATTLE   OF    RONCESVALLES.     195 

alone  on  the  earth,  and  he  was  quite  willing  to  leave 
it,  only  he  wished  that  King  Charles,  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountains,  should  know  how  the  case  stood  before 
he  went.  So  he  took  up  the  horn  and  blew  it  three 
times,  with  such  force  that  the  blood  burst  out  of  his 
nose  and  mouth.  Turpin  says  that  at  the  third  blast 
the  horn  broke  in  two. 

In  spite  of  all  the  noise  of  the  battle,  the  sound 
of  the  horn  broke  over  it  like  a  voice  out  of  the  other 
world.  They  say  that  birds  fell  dead  at  it,  and  tha. 
the  whole  Saracen  army  drew  back  in  terror.  Charle- 
magne was  sitting  in  the  midst  of  his  court  when  the 
sound  reached  him,  and  Gan  was  there.  The  Em- 
peror was  the  first  to  hear  it. 

"  Do  you  hear  that  ?  "  said  he  to  his  nobles.  "  Did 
you  hear  the  horn  as  I  heard  it  ?  " 

Upon  this  they  all  listened,  and  Gan  felt  his  heart 
misgive  him.  The  horn  sounded  a  second  time. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?  "  said  Charles. 

"Orlando  is  hunting,"  observed  Gan,  "and  the 
stag  is  killed." 

But  when  the  horn  sounded  yet  a  third  time,  and 
the  blast  was  one  of  so  dreadful  a  vehemence,  every- 
body looked  at  the  other,  and  then  they  all  looked  at 
Gan  in  a  fury.  Charles  rose  from  his  seat. 

"  This  is  no  hunting  of  the  stag,"  said  he.  "  The 
sound  goes  to  my  very  heart.  O  Gan  !  O  Gan  ! 
Not  for  thee  do  I  blush,  but  for  myself.  O  foul  and 
monstrous  villain  !  Take  him,  gentlemen,  and  keep 
him  in  close  prison.  Would  to  God  I  had  not  lived 
to  see  this  day  ! " 

But  it  was  no  time  for  words.  They  put  the 
traitor  in  prison  and  then  Charles,  with  all  his  court, 
took  his  way  to  Roncesvalles,  grieving  and  praying. 


196         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

It  was  afternoon  when  the  horn  sounded,  and  half 
an  hour  after  it  when  the  Emperor  set  out  ;  and 
meantime  Orlando  had  returned  to  the  fight  that  he 
might  do  his  duty,  however  hopeless,  as  long  as  he 
could  sit  his  horse.  At  length  he  found  his  end 
approaching,  for  toil  and  fever,  and  rode  all  alone  to 
a  fountain  where  he  had  before  quenched  his  thirst. 
His  horse  was  wearier  than  he,  and  no  sooner  had  his 
master  alighted  than  the  beast,  kneeling  down  as  if 
.o  take  leave,  and  to  say,  "  I  have  brought  you  to  a 
place  of  rest,"  fell  dead  at  his  feet.  Orlando  cast 
water  on  him  from  the  fountain,  not  wishing  to  be- 
lieve him  dead  ;  but  when  he  found  it  to  no  purpose, 
he  grieved  for  him  as  if  he  had  been  a  human  being, 
and  addressed  him  by  name  with  tears,  and  asked 
forgiveness  if  he  had  ever  done  him  wrong.  They 
say  that  the  horse,  at  these  words,  opened  his  eyes 
a  little,  and  looked  kindly  at  his  master,  and  then 
stirred  never  more.  They  say  also  that  Orlando  then 
summoning  all  his  strength,  smote  a  rock  near  him 
with  his  beautiful  sword  Durindana,  thinking  to  shiver 
the  steel  in  pieces,  and  so  prevent  its  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  but  though  the  rock  split  like  a 
slate,  and  a  great  cleft  remained  ever  after  to  astonish 
the  eyes  of  pilgrims,  the  sword  remained  uninjured. 

And  now  Rinaldo  and  Ricciardetto  came  up,  with 
Turpin,  having  driven  back  the  Saracens,  and  told 
Orlando  that  the  battle  was  won.  Then  Orlando 
knelt  before  Turpin  and  begged  remission  of  his  sins, 
and  Turpin  gave  him  absolution.  Orlando  fixed  his 
eyes  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword  as  on  a  crucifix,  and 
embraced  it,  and  he  raised  his  eyes  and  appeared  like 
a  creature  seraphical  and  transfigured,  and  bowing  his 
head,  he  breathed  out  his  pure  soul. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   RONCESVALLES.     197 

And  now  King  Charles  and  his  nobles  came  up. 
The  Emperor,  at  sight  of  the  dead  Orlando,  threw 
himself,  as  if  he  had  been  a  reckless  youth,  from  his 
horse,  and  embraced  and  kissed  the  body,  and  said  : 
"  I  bless  thee,  Orlando  ;  I  bless  thy  whole  life,  and 
all  that  thou  wast,  and  all  that  thou  ever  didst,  and  the 
father  that  begat  thee  ;  and  I  ask  pardon  of  thee  for 
believing  those  who  brought  thee  to  thine  end.  They 
shall  have  their  reward,  O  thou  beloved  one  !  But 
indeed  it  is  thou  that  livest,  and  I  who  am  worse  than 
dead." 

Horrible  to  the  Emperor's  eyes  was  the  sight  of 
the  field  of  Roncesvalles.  The  Saracens  indeed  had 
fled,  conquered  ;  but  all  his  paladins  but  two  were 
left  on  it  dead,  and  the  whole  valley  looked  like  a 
great  slaughter-house,  trampled  into  blood  and  dirt, 
and  reeking  to  the  heat.  Charles  trembled  to  his 
heart's  core  for  wonder  and  agony.  After  gazing 
dumbly  on  the  place  he  cursed  it  with  a  solemn  curse, 
and  wished  that  never  grass  might  grow  in  it  again, 
nor  seed  of  any  kind,  neither  within  it  nor  on  any  of 
its  mountains  around,  but  the  anger  of  Heaven  abide 
over  it  forever. 

Charles  and  his  warriors  went  after  the  Saracens 
into  Spain.  They  took  and  fired  Saragossa,  and  Mar- 
silius  was  hung  to  the  carob-tree  under  which  he  had 
planned  his  villany  with  Gan  ;  and  Gan  was  hung 
and  drawn  and  quartered  in  Roncesvalles,  amidst  the 
execrations  of  the  country. 


198         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 


RINALDO   AND    BAYARD. 

CHARLEMAGNE  was  overwhelmed  with  grief  at  the 
loss  of  so  many  of  his  bravest  warriors  at  the  disaster 
of  Roncesvalles,  and  bitterly  reproached  himself  for 
his  credulity  in  resigning  himself  so  completely  to  the 
counsels  of  the  treacherous  Count  Gan.  Yet  he  soon 
fell  into  a  similar  snare  when  he  suffered  his  unworthy 
son,  Chariot,  to  acquire  such  an  influence  over  him,  that 
he  constantly  led  him  into  acts  of  cruelty  and  injustice 
that  in  his  right  mind  he  would  have  scorned  to  com- 
mit. Rinaldo  and  his  brothers,  for  some  slight  offence 
to  the  imperious  young  prince,  were  forced  to  fly  from 
Paris,  and  to  take  shelter  in  their  castle  of  Montalban  ; 
for  Charles  had  publicly  said,  if  he  could  take  them 
he  would  hang  them  all.  He  sent  numbers  of  his 
bravest  knights  to  arrest  them,  but  all  without  success. 
Either  Rinaldo  foiled  their  efforts  and  sent  them  back, 
stripped  of  their  armor  and  of  their  glory,  or,  after 
meeting  and  conferring  with  him,  they  came  back  and 
told  the  king  they  could  not  be  his  instruments  for 
such  a  work. 

At  last  Charles  himself  raised  a  great  army,  and 
went  in  person  to  compel  the  paladin  to  submit.  He 
ravaged  all  the  country  round  about  Montalban,  so  that 
supplies  of  food  should  be  cut  off,  and  he  threatened 
death  to  any  who  should  attempt  to  issue  forth,  hoping 
to  compel  the  garrison  to  submit  for  want  of  food. 

Rinaldo' s  resources  had  been  brought  so  low  that  it 
seemed  useless  to  contend  any  longer.  His  brothers 
had  been  taken  prisoners  in  a  skirmish,  and  his  only 
hope  of  saving  their  lives  was  in  making  terms  with 
the  king. 


RINALDO  AND  BAYARD.       199 

So  he  sent  a  messenger,  offering  to  yield  himself 
and  his  castle  if  the  king  would  spare  his  and  his 
brothers'  lives.  While  the  messenger  was  gone  Ri- 
naldo,  impatient  to  learn  what  tidings  he  might  bring, 
rode  out  to  meet  him.  When  he  had  ridden  as  far 
as  he  thought  prudent  he  stopped  in  a  wood,  and 
alighting,  tied  Bayard  to  a  tree.  Then  he  sat  down, 
and,  as  he  waited,  he  fell  asleep.  Bayard  meanwhile 
got  loose,  and  strayed  away  where  the  grass  tempted 
him.  Just  then  came  along  some  country  people,  who 
said  to  one  another,  "Look,  is  not  that  the  great  horse 
Bayard  that  Rinaldo  rides  ?  Let  us  take  him,  and 
carry  him  to  King  Charles,  who  will  pay  us  well  for 
our  trouble."  They  did  so,  and  the  king  was  de- 
lighted with  his  prize,  and  gave  them  a  present  that 
made  them  rich  to  their  dying  day. 

When  Rinaldo  woke  he  looked  round  for  his  horse, 
and,  finding  him  not,  he  groaned,  and  said,  "  O  un- 
lucky hour  that  I  was  born  !  how  fortune  persecutes 
me  !  "  So  desperate  was  he  that  he  took  off  his  armor 
and  his  spurs,  saying,  "What  need  have  I  of  these, 
since  Bayard  is  lost?"  While  he  stood  thus  lament- 
ing, a  man  came  from  the  thicket,  seemingly  bent  with 
age.  He  had  a  long  beard  hanging  over  his  breast, 
and  eyebrows  that  almost  covered  his  eyes.  He  bade 
Rinaldo  good  day.  Rinaldo  thanked  him,  and  said, 
"  A  good  day  I  have  hardly  had  since  I  was  born." 
Then  said  the  old  man,  "Signer  Rinaldo,  you  must 
not  despair,  for  God  will  make  all  things  turn  to  the 
best."  Rinaldo  answered,  "  My  trouble  is  too  heavy 
for  me  to  hope  relief.  The  king  has  taken  my 
brothers,  and  means  to  put  them  to  death.  I  thought 
to  rescue  them  by  means  of  my  horse  Bayard,  but 
while  I  slept  some  thief  has  stolen  him."  The  old 


200         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

man  replied,  "I  will  remember  you  and  your  brothers 
in  my  prayers.  I  am  a  poor  man,  have  you  not 
something  to  give  me?"  Rinaldo  said,  "I  have 
nothing  to  give,"  but  then  he  recollected  his  spurs. 
He  gave  them  to  the  beggar,  and  said,  "  Here,  take 
my  spurs.  They  are  the  first  present  my  mother  gave 
me  when  my  father,  Count  Aymon,  dubbed  me  knight. 
They  ought  to  bring  you  ten  pounds." 

The  old  man  took  the  spurs,  and  put  them  into  his 
sack,  and  said,  "  Noble  sir,  have  you  nothing  else  you 
can  give  me?"  Rinaldo  replied,  "Are  you  making 
sport  of  me  ?  I  tell  you  truly  if  it  were  not  for  shame 
to  beat  one  so  helpless,  I  would  teach  you  better 
manners."  The  old  man  said,  "Of  a  truth,  sir,  if 
you  did  so  you  would  do  a  great  sin.  If  all  had 
beaten  me  of  whom  I  have  begged  I  should  have 
been  killed  long  ago,  for  I  ask  alms  in  churches  and 
convents,  and  wherever  I  can."  "You  say  true," 
replied  Rinaldo,  "  if  you  did  not  ask,  none  would 
relieve  you."  The  old  man  said,  "True,  noble 
sir,  therefore  I  pray  if  you  have  anything  more  to 
spare,  give  it  me."  Rinaldo  gave  him  his  mantle, 
and  said,  "Take  it,  pilgrim.  I  give  it  you  for  the 
love  of  Christ,  that  God  would  save  my  brothers  from 
a  shameful  death,  and  help  me  to  escape  out  of  King 
Charles's  power." 

The  pilgrim  took  the  mantle,  folded  it  up',  and  put 
it  into  his  bag.  Then  a  third  time  he  said  to  Rinaldo, 
"Sir,  have  you  nothing  left  to  give  me  that  I  may 
remember  you  in  my  prayers?"  "Wretch!" 
exclaimed  Rinaldo,  "  do  you  make  me  your  sport  ?  " 
and  he  drew  his  sword,  and  struck  at  him  ;  but  the 
old  man  warded  off  the  blow  with  his  staff,  and  said, 
"Rinaldo,  would  you  slay  your  cousin,  Malagigi  ? " 


RINALDO   AND   BAYARD.  2OI 

When  Rinaldo  heard  that  he  stayed  his  hand,  and  gazed 
doubdngly  on  the  old  man,  who  now  threw  aside  his 
disguise,  and  appeared  to  be  indeed  Malagigi.  "  Dear 
cousin,"  said  Rinaldo,  "pray  forgive  me.  I  did  not 
know  you.  Next  to  God,  my  trust  is  in  you.  Help 
my  brothers  to  escape  out  of  prison,  I  entreat  you.  I 
have  lost  my  horse,  and  therefore  cannot  render  them 
any  assistance."  Malagigi  answered,  "  Cousin  Ri- 
naldo, I  will  enable  you  to  recover  your  horse. 
Meanwhile,  you  must  do  as  I  say." 

Then  Malagigi  took  from  his  sack  a  gown,  and 
gave  it  to  Rinaldo  to  put  on  over  his  armor,  and  a 
hat  that  was  full  of  holes,  and  an  old  pair  of  shoes  to 
put  on.  They  looked  like  two  pilgrims,  very  old  and 
poor.  Then  they  went  forth  from  the  wood,  and 
after  a  little  while  saw  four  monks  riding  along  the 
road.  Malagigi  said  to  Rinaldo,  "  I  will  go  meet  the 
monks,  and  see  what  news  I  can  learn." 

Malagigi  learned  from  the  monks  that  on  the  ap- 
proaching festival  there  would  be  a  great  crowd  of 
people  at  court,  for  the  prince  was  going  to  show  the 
ladies  the  famous  horse  Bayard  that  used  to  belong  to 
Rinaldo.  "What!"  said  the  pilgrim;  "  is  Bayard 
there?"  "Yes,"  answered  the  monks;  "  the  king 
has  given  him  to  Chariot,  and,  after  the  prince  has 
ridden  him  the  king  means  to  pass  sentence  on  the 
brothers  of  Rinaldo,  and  have  them  hanged."  Then 
Malagigi  asked  alms  of  the  monks,  but  they  would 
give  him  none,  till  he  threw  aside  his  pilgrim  garb,  and 
let  them  see  his  armor,  when,  partly  for  charity  and 
partly  for  terror,  they  gave  him  a  golden  cup,  adorned 
with  precious  stones  that  sparkled  in  the  sunshine. 

Malagigi  then  hastened  back  to  Rinaldo,  and  told 
him  what  he  had  learned. 


202         LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

The  morning  of  the  feast-day  Rinaldo  and  Malagigi 
came  to  the  place  where  the  sports  were  to  be  held. 
Malagigi  gave  Rinaldo  his  spurs  back  again,  and  said, 
"  Cousin,  put  on  your  spurs,  for  you  will  need  them." 
"  How  shall  I  need  them,"  said  Rinaldo,  "since  I 
have  lost  my  horse  ?  "  Yet  he  did  as  Malagigi  di- 
rected him. 

When  the  two  had  taken  their  stand  on  the  border 
of  the  field  among  the  crowd  the  princes  and  ladies 
of  the  court  began  to  assemble.  When  they  were  all 
assembled  the  king  came  also,  and  Chariot  with  him, 
near  whom  the  horse  Bayard  was  led,  in  the  charge 
of  grooms,  who  were  expressly  enjoined  to  guard  him 
safely.  The  king,  looking  round  on  the  circle  of 
spectators,  saw  Malagigi  and  Rinaldo,  and  observed 
the  splendid  cup  that  they  had,  and  said  to  Chariot, 
"See,  my  son,  what  a  brilliant  cup  those  two  pilgrims 
have  got.  It  seems  to  be  worth  a  hundred  ducats." 
"That  is  true,"  said  Chariot  ;  "let  us  go  and  ask 
where  they  got  it."  So  they  rode  to  the  place  where 
the  pilgrims  stood,  and  Chariot  stopped  Bayard  close 
to  them. 

The  horse  snuffed  at  the  pilgrims,  knew  Rinaldo, 
and  caressed  his  master.  The  king  said  to  Malagigi, 
"  Friend,  where  did  you  get  that  beautiful  cup  ?  " 
Malagigi  replied,  "  Honorable  sir,  I  paid  for  it  all  the 
money  I  have  saved  from  eleven  years'  begging  in 
churches  and  convents.  The  Pope  himself  has  blessed 
it,  and  given  it  the  power  that  whosoever  eats  or 
drinks  out  of  it  shall  be  pardoned  of  all  his  sins." 
Then  said  the  king  to  Chariot,  "My  son,  these  are 
right  holy  men  ;  see  how  the  dumb  beast  worships 
them." 

Then  the  king  said  to  Malagigi,  "  Give  me  a  mor- 


RINALDO  AND  BAYARD.       203 

sel  from  your  cup,  that  I  may  be  cleared  of  my  sins.  * 
Malagigi  answered,  "  Illustrious  lord,  I  dare  not  do 
it,  unless  you  will  forgive  all  who  have  at  any  time 
offended  you.  You  know  that  Christ  forgave  all  those 
who  had  betrayed  and  crucified  him."  The  king 
replied,  "  Friend,  that  is  true  ;  but  Rinaldo  has  so 
grievously  offended  me,  that  I  cannot  forgive  him,  nor 
that  other  man,  Malagigi,  the  magician.  These  two 
shall  never  live  in  my  kingdom  again.  If  I  catch 
them  I  will  certainly  have  them  hanged.  But  tell 
me,  pilgrim,  who  is  that  man  who  stands  beside  you  ?  " 
"  He  is  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind,"  said  Malagigi.  Then 
the  king  said  again,  "Give  me  to  drink  of  your  cup, 
to  take  away  my  sins."  Malagigi  answered,  "  My 
lord  king,  here  is  my  poor  brother,  who  for  fifty  days 
has  not  heard,  spoken,  nor  seen.  This  misfortune 
befell  him  in  a  house  where  we  found  shelter,  and  the 
day  before  yesterday  we  met  with  a  wise  woman,  who 
told  him  the  only  hope  of  a  cure  for  him  was  to  come 
to  some  place  where  Bayard  was  to  be  ridden,  and  to 
mount  and  ride  him  ;  that  would  do  him  more  good 
than  anything  else."  Then  said  the  king,  "Friend, 
you  have  come  to  the  right  place,  for  Bayard  is  to  be 
ridden  here  to-day.  Give  me  a  draught  from  your 
cup,  and  your  companion  shall  ride  upon  Bayard." 
Malagigi,  hearing  these  words,  said,  "Be  it  so." 
Then  the  king,  with  great  devotion,  took  a  spoon,  and 
dipped  a  portion  from  the  pilgrim's  cup,  believing  that 
his  sins  should  be  thereby  forgiven. 

When  this  was  done,  the  king  said  to  Chariot, 
"  Son,  I  request  that  you  will  let  this  sick  pilgrim  sit 
on  your  horse,  and  ride  if  he  can,  for  by  so  doing  he 
will  be  healed  of  all  his  infirmities."  Chariot  replied, 
"  That  will  I  gladly  do."  So  saying,  he  dismounted, 


204         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  the  servants  took  the  pilgrim  in  their  arms,  and 
helped  him  on  the  horse. 

When  Rinaldo  was  mounted,  he  put  his  feet  in  the 
stirrups,  and  said,  "I  would  like  to  ride  a  little." 
Malagigi,  hearing  him  speak,  seemed  delighted,  and 
asked  him  whether  he  could  see  and  hear  also. 
"Yes,"  said  Rinaldo,  "  I  am  healed  of  all  my  in- 
firmities." When  the  king  heard  it  he  said  to  Bishop 
Turpin,  "  My  lord  bishop,  we  must  celebrate  this 
with  a  procession,  with  crosses  and  banners,  for  it  is  a 
great  miracle." 

When  Rinaldo  remarked  that  he  was  not  carefully 
watched,  he  spoke  to  the  horse,  and  touched  him  with 
the  spurs.  Bayard  knew  that  his  master  was  upon 
him,  and  he  started  off  upon  a  rapid  pace,  and  in  a 
few  moments  was  a  good  way  off.  Malagigi  pretended 
to  be  in  great  alarm.  "O  noble  king  and  master," 
he  cried,  "  my  poor  companion  is  run  away  with  ; 
he  will  fall  and  break  his  neck."  The  king  ordered 
his  knights  to  ride  after  the  pilgrim,  and  bring  him 
back,  or  help  him  if  need  were.  They  did  so,  but 
it  was  in  vain.  Rinaldo  left  them  all  behind  him, 
and  kept  on  his  way  till  he  reached  Montalban. 
Malagigi  was  suffered  to  depart,  unsuspected,  and  he 
went  his  way,  making  sad  lamentation  for  the  fate  of 
his  comrade,  who  he  pretended  to  think  must  surely 
be  dashed  to  pieces. 

Malagigi  did  not  go  far,  but  having'  changed  his 
disguise,  returned  to  where  the  king  was,  and  em- 
ployed his  best  art  in  getting  the  brothers  of  Rinaldo 
out  of  prison.  He  succeeded  ;  and  all  three  got  safely 
to  Montalban,  where  Rinaldo's  joy  at  the  rescue  of 
his  brothers  and  the  recovery"  of  Bayard  was  more 
than  tongue  can  tell. 


DEATH    OF    RINALDO.  205 


DEATH    OF   RINALDO. 

THE  distress  in  Rinaldo's  castle  for  want  of  food 
grew  more  severe  every  day,  under  the  pressure  of 
the  siege.  The  garrison  were  forced  to  kill  their 
horses,  both  to  save  the  provision  they  would  con- 
sume, and  to  make  food  of  their  flesh.  At  last  all 
the  horses  were  killed  except  Bayard,  and  Rinaldo 
said  to  his  brothers,  "  Bayard  must  die,  for  we  have 
nothing  else  to  eat."  So  they  went  to  the  stable  and 
brought  out  Bayard  to  kill  him.  But  Alardo  said, 
"  Brother,  let  Bayard  live  a  little  longer  ;  who  knows 
what  God  may  do  for  us  ? " 

Bayard  heard  these  words,  and  understood  them  as 
if  he  was  a  man,  and  fell  on  his  knees,  as  if  he  would 
beg  for  mercy.  When  Rinaldo  saw  the  distress  of 
his  horse  his  heart  failed  him,  and  he  let  him  live. 

Just  at  this  time  Aya,  Rinaldo's  mother,  who  was  the 
sister  of  the  Emperor,  came  to  the  camp,  attended 
by  knights  and  ladies,  to  intercede  for  her  sons.  She 
fell  on  her  knees  before  the  king,  and  besought  him 
that  he  would  pardon  Rinaldo  and  his  brothers  :  and 
all  the  peers  and  knights  took  her  side,  and  entreated 
the  king  to  grant  her  prayer.  Then  said  the  king, 
"  Dear  sister,  you  act  the  part  of  a  good  mother,  and 
I  respect  your  tender  heart,  and  yield  to  your  en- 
treaties. I  will  spare  your  sons  their  lives  if  they 
submit  implicitly  to  my  will." 

When  Chariot  heard  this  he  approached  the  king 
and  whispered  in  his  ear.  And  the  king  turned  to 
his  sister  and  said,  "  Chariot  must  have  Bayard,  be- 
cause I  have  given  the  horse  to  him.  Now  go,  my 
sister,  and  tell  Rinaldo  what  I  have  said." 


206         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

When  the  Lady  Aya  heard  these  words  she  was 
delighted,  thanked  God  in  her  heart,  and  said,  "  Wor- 
thy king  and  brother,  I  will  do  as  you  bid  me."  So 
she  went  into  the  castle,  where  her  sons  received  her 
most  joyfully  and  affectionately,  and  she  told  them  the 
king's  offer.  Then  Alardo  said,  "  Brother,  I  would 
rather  have  the  king's  enmity  than  give  Bayard  to 
Chariot,  for  I  believe  he  will  kill  him."  Likewise 
said  all  the  brothers.  When  Rinaldo  heard  them  he 
said,  "  Dear  brothers,  if  we  may  win  our  forgiveness 
by  giving  up  the  horse,  so  be  it.  Let  us  make  our 
peace,  for  we  cannot  stand  against  the  king's  power." 
Then  he  went  to  his  mother,  and  told  her  they  would 
give  the  horse  to  Chariot,  and  more,  too,  if  the  king 
would  pardon  them,  and  forgive  all  that  they  had  done 
against  his  crown  and  dignity.  The  lady  returned  to 
Charles  and  told  him  the  answer  of  her  sons. 

When  the  peace  was  thus  made  between  the  king 
and  the  sons  of  Aymon,  the  brothers  came  forth  from 
the  castle,  bringing  Bayard  with  them,  and,  falling  at 
the  king's  feet,  begged  his  forgiveness.  The  king  bade 
them  rise,  and  received  them  into  favor  in  the  sight  of 
all  his  noble  knights  and  counsellors,  to  the  great 
joy  of  all,  especially  of  the  Lady  Aya,  their  mother. 
Then  Rinaldo  took  the  horse  Bayard,  gave  him  to 
Chariot,  and  said,  "  My  lord  and  prince,  this  horse  I 
give  to  you  ;  do  with  him  as  to  you  seems  good." 
Chariot  took  him,  as  had  been  agreed  on.  Then  he 
made  the  servants  take  him  to  the  bridge,  and  throw 
him  into  the  water.  Bayard  sank  to  the  bottom,  but 
soon  came  to  the  surface  again  and  swam,  saw  Rinaldo 
looking  at  him,  came  to  land,  ran  to  his  old  master, 
and  stood  by  him  as  proudly  as  if  he  had  understand- 
ing, and  would  say,  "  Why  did  you  treat  me  so  ?  " 


DEATH    OF    RINALDO.  207 

When  the  prince  saw  that  he  said,  "  Rinaldo,  give 
me  the  horse  again,  for  he  must  die."  Rinaldo  re- 
plied, "  My  lord  and  prince,  he  is  yours  without 
dispute,"  and  gave  him  to  him.  The  prince  then  had 
a  millstone  tied  to  each  foot,  and  two  to  his  neck,  and 
made  them  throw  him  again  into  the  water.  Bayard 
struggled  in  the  water,  looked  up  to  his  master,  threw 
off  the  stones,  and  came  back  to  Rinaldo. 

When  Alardo  saw  that,  he  said,  "  Now  must  thou 
be  disgraced  forever,  brother,  if  thou  give  up  the  horse 
again."  But  Rinaldo  answered,  "Brother,  be  still. 
Shall  I  for  the  horse's  life  provoke  the  anger  of  the 
king  again  ?  "  Then  Alardo  said,  "  Ah,  Bayard  ! 
what  a  return  do  we  make  for  all  thy  true  love  and 
service  !  "  Rinaldo  gave  the  horse  to  the  prince  again, 
and  said,  "  My  lord,  if  the  horse  comes  out  again  I 
cannot  return  him  to  you  any  more,  for  it  wrings 
my  heart  too  much."  Then  Chariot  had  Bayard 
loaded  with  the  stones  as  before,  and  thrown  into  the 
water  ;  and  commanded  Rinaldo  that  he  should  not 
stand  where  the  horse  would  see  him.  When  Bayard 
rose  to  the  surface  he  stretched  his  neck  out  of  the 
water  and  looked  round  for  his  master,  but  saw  him 
not.  Then  he  sunk  to  the  bottom. 

Rinaldo  was  so  distressed  for  the  loss  of  Bayard 
that  he  made  a  vow  to  ride  no  horse  again  all  his 
life  long,  nor  to  bind  a  sword  to  his  side,  but  to 
become  a  hermit.  He  resolved  to  betake  himself  to 
some  wild  wood,  but  first  to  return  to  his  castle, 
to  see  his  children,  and  to  appoint  to  each  his  share 
of  his  estate. 

So  he  took  leave  of  the  king  and  of  his  brothers, 
and  returned  to  Montalban,  and  his  brothers  re- 
mained with  the  king.  Rinaldo  called  his  children 


208         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

to  him,  and  he  made  his  eldest  born,  Aymeric,  a 
knight,  and  made  him  lord  of  his  castle  and  of  his 
land.  He  gave  to  the  rest  what  other  goods  he  had, 
and  kissed  and  embraced  them  all,  commended  them  to 
God,  and  then  departed  from  them  with  a  heavy  heart. 
He  had  not  travelled  far  when  he  entered  a  wood, 
and  there  met  with  a  hermit,  who  had  long  been 
retired  from  the  world.  Rinaldo  greeted  him,  and 
the  hermit  replied  courteously,  and  asked  him  who 
he  was  and  what  was  his  purpose.  Rinaldo  replied, 
"  Sir,  I  have  led  a  sinful  life  ;  many  deeds  of  vio- 
lence have  I  done,  and  many  men  have  I  slain,  not 
always  in  a  good  cause,  but  often  under  the  im- 
pulse of  my  own  headstrong  passions.  I  have  also 
been  the  cause  of  the  death  of  many  of  my  friends, 
who  took  my  part,  not  because  they  thought  me  in 
the  right,  but  only  for  love  of  me.  And  now  I  come 
to  make  confession  of  all  my  sins,  and  to  do  pen- 
ance for  the  rest  of  my  life,  if  perhaps  the  mercy 
of  God  will  forgive  me. "  The  hermit  said,  "  Friend, 
I  perceive  you  have  fallen  into  great  sins,  and  have 
broken  the  commandments  of  God,  but  his  mercy  is 
greater  than  your  sins  ;  and  if  you  repent  from  your 
heart,  and  lead  a  new  life,  there  is  yet  hope  for  you 
that  he  will  forgive  you  what  is  past."  So  Rinaldo 
was  comforted,  and  said,  "  Master,  I  will  stay  with 
you,  and  what  you  bid  me  I  will  do."  The  hermit 
replied,  "  Roots  and  vegetables  will  be  your  food  ; 
shirt  or  shoes  you  may  not  wear  ;  your  lot  must  be 
poverty  and  want  if  you  stay  with  me."  Rinaldo 
replied,  "I  will  cheerfully  bear  all  this,  and  more." 
So  he  remained  three  whole  years  with  the  hermit,  and 
after  that  his  strength  failed,  and  it  seemed  as  if  he 
was  like  to  die. 


DEATH    OF   RINALDO.  209 

One  night  the  hermit  had  a  dream,  and  heard  a 
voice  from  heaven,  which  commanded  him  to  say 
to  his  companion  that  he  must  without  delay  go 
to  the  Holy  Land,  and  fight  against  the  heathen. 
The  hermit,  when  he  heard  that  voice,  was  glad, 
and  calling  Rinaldo,  he  said,  "  Friend,  God's  angel 
has  commanded  me  to  say  to  you  that  you  must  with- 
out delay  go  to  Jerusalem,  and  help  our  fellow- 
Christians  in  their  struggle  with  the  Infidels."  Then 
said  Rinaldo,  "  Ah  !  master,  how  can  I  do  that  ?  It 
is  over  three  years  since  I  made  a  vow  no  more  to  ride 
a  horse,  nor  take  a  sword  or  spear  in  my  hand."  The 
hermit  answered,  "  Dear  friend,  obey  God,  and  do 
what  the  angel  commanded."  "I  will  do  so,"  said 
Rinaldo,  "  and  pray  for  me,  my  master,  that  God  may 
guide  me  right."  Then  he  departed,  and  went  to 
the  seaside,  and  took  ship  and  came  to  Tripoli  in 
Syria. 

And  as  he  went  on  his  way  his  strength  returned 
to  him,  till  it  was  equal  to  what  it  was  in  his  best 
days.  And  though  he  never  mounted  a  horse,  nor 
took  a  sword  in  his  hand,  yet  with  his  pilgrim's  staff 
he  did  good  service  in  the  armies  of  the  Christians  ; 
and  it  pleased  God  that  he  escaped  unhurt,  though  he 
was  present  in  many  battles,  and  his  courage  inspired 
the  men  with  the  same.  At  last  a  truce  was  made 
with  the  Saracens,  and  Rinaldo,  now  old  and  infirm, 
wishing  to  see  his  native  land  again  before  he  died, 
took  ship  and  sailed  for  France.  When  he  arrived 
he  shunned  to  go  to  the  resorts  of  the  great,  and  pre- 
ferred to  live  among  the  humble  folk,  where  he  was 
unknown.  He  did  country  work,  and  lived  on  milk 
and  bread,  drank  water,  and  was  therewith  content. 
While  he  so  lived  he  heard  that  the  city  of  Cologne 


210         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

was  the  holiest  and  best  of  cities,  on  account  of  the 
relics  and  bodies  of  saints  who  had  there  poured  out 
their  blood  for  the  faith.  This  induced  him  to  betake 
himself  thither.  When  the  pious  hero  arrived  at 
Cologne  he  went  to  the  monastery  of  St.  Peter,  and 
lived  a  holy  life,  occupied  night  and  day  in  devotion. 
It  so  happened  that  at  that  time  in  the  next  town  to 
Cologne  there  raged  a  dreadful  pestilence.  Many 
people  came  to  Rinaldo,  to  beg  him  to  pray  for  them, 
that  the  plague  might  be  stayed.  The  holy  man 
prayed  fervently,  and  besought  the  Lord  to  take  away 
the  plague  from  the  people,  and  his  prayer  was  heard. 
The  stroke  of  the  pestilence  was  arrested,  and  all  the 
people  thanked  the  holy  man  and  praised  God. 

Now  there  was  at  this  time  at  Cologne  a  bishop, 
called  Agilolphus,  who  was  a  wise  and  understanding 
man,  who  led  a  pure  and  secluded  life,  and  set  a  good 
example  to  others.  This  bishop  undertook  to  build 
the  Church  of  St.  Peter,  and  gave  notice  to  all  stone- 
masons and  other  workmen  round  about  to  come  to 
Cologne,  where  they  should  find  work  and  wages. 
Among  others  came  Rinaldo  ;  and  he  worked  among 
the  laborers  and  did  more  than  four  or  five  common 
workmen.  When  they  went  to  dinner  he  brought 
stone  and  mortar  so  that  they  had  enough  for  the 
whole  day.  When  the  others  went  to  bed  he  stretched 
himself  out  on  the  stones.  He  ate  bread  only,  and 
drank  nothing  but  water  ;  and  had  for  his  wages  but  a 
penny  a  day.  The  head  workman  asked  him  his  name, 
and  where  he  belonged.  He  would  not  tell,  but  said 
nothing  and  pursued  his  work.  They  called  him  St. 
Peter's  workman,  because  he  was  so  devoted  to  his  work. 

When  the  overseer  saw  the  diligence  of  this  holy 
man  he  chid  the  laziness  of  the  other  workmen,  and 


DEATH    OF   RINALDO.  211 

said,  "  You  receive  more  pay  than  this  good  man,  but 
do  not  do  half  as  much  work."  For  this  reason  the 
other  workmen  hated  Rinaldo,  and  made  a  secret 
agreement  to  kill  him.  They  knew  that  he  made  it  a 
practice  to  go  every  night  to  a  certain  church  to  pray 
and  give  alms.  So  they  agreed  to  lay  wait  for  him, 
with  the  purpose  to  kill  him.  When  he  came  to  the 
spot,  they  seized  him,  and  beat  him  over  the  head  till 
he  was  dead.  Then  they  put  his  body  into  a  sack, 
and  stones  with  it,  and  cast  it  into  the  Rhine,  in  the 
hope  the  sack  would  sink  to  the  bottom,  and  be  there 
concealed.  But  God  willed  not  that  it  should  be  so, 
but  caused  the  sack  to  float  on  the  surface,  and  be 
thrown  upon  the  bank.  And  the  soul  of  the  holy 
martyr  was  carried  by  angels,  with  songs  of  praise,  up 
to  the  heavens. 

Now  at  that  time  the  people  of  Dortmund  had  be- 
come converted  to  the  Christian  faith  ;  and  they  sent 
to  the  Bishop  of  Cologne,  and  desired  him  to  give  them 
some  of  the  holy  relics  that  are  in  such  abundance  in 
that  city.  So  the  Bishop  called  together  his  clergy  to 
deliberate  what  answer  they  should  give  to  this  request. 
And  it  was  determined  to  give  to  the  people  of  Dort- 
mund the  body  of  the  holy  man  who  had  just  suffered 
martyrdom. 

When  now  the  body  with  the  coffin  was  put  on  the 
cart,  the  cart  began  to  move  toward  Dortmund  without 
horses  or  help  of  men,  and  stopped  not  till  it  reached 
the  place  where  the  church  of  St.  Rinaldo  now  stands. 
The  Bishop  and  his  clergy  followed  the  holy  man  to 
do  him  honor,  with  singing  of  hymns,  for  a  space  of 
three  miles.  And  St.  Rinaldo  has  ever  since  been  the 
patron  of  that  place,  and  many  wonderful  works  has 
God  done  through  him,  as  maybe  seen  in  the  legends. 


212         LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 


HUON   OF   BORDEAUX. 

WHEN  Charlemagne  grew  old  he  felt  the  burden  of 
government  become  heavier  year  by  year,  till  at  last  he 
called  together  his  high  barons  and  peers  to  propose  to 
abdicate  the  empire  and  the  throne  of  France  in  favor 
of  his  sons,  Chariot  and  Lewis. 

The  Emperor  was  unreasonably  partial  to  his  eldest 
son  ;  he  would  have  been  glad  to  have  had  the  barons 
and  peers  demand  Chariot  for  their  only  sovereign  ;  but 
that  prince  was  so  infamous,  for  his  falsehood  and  cruelty, 
that  the  council  strenuously  opposed  the  Emperor's 
proposal  of  abdicating,  and  implored  him  to  continue 
to  hold  a  sceptre  which  he  wielded  with  so  much 
glory. 

Amaury  of  Hauteville,  cousin  of  Ganelon,  and  now 
head  of  the  wicked  branch  of  the  house  of  Maganza, 
was  the  secret  partisan  of  Chariot,  whom  he  resem- 
bled in  his  loose  morals  and  bad  dispositions.  Amaury 
nourished  the  most  bitter  resentment  against  the  house 
of  Guienne,  of  which  the  former  Duke,  Sevinus,  had 
often  rebuked  his  misdeeds.  He  took  advantage  of 
this  occasion  to  do  an  injury  to  the  two  young  children 
whom  the  Duke  Sevinus  had  left  under  the  charge 
of  the  Duchess  Alice,  their  mother  ;  and  at  the  same 
time,  to  advance  his  interest  with  Chariot  by  increas- 
ing his  wealth  and  power.  With  this  view  he  sug- 
gested to  the  prince  a  new  idea. 

He  pretended  to  agree  with  the  opinion  of  the 
barons  ;  he  said  that  it  would  be  best  to  try  Chariot's 
capacity  for  government  by  giving  him  some  rich 
provinces  before  placing  him  upon  the  throne  ;  and 
that  the  Emperor,  without  depriving  himself  of  any 


HUON    OF   BORDEAUX.  213 

part  of  his  realm,  might  give  Chariot  the  investiture 
of  Guienne.  For  although  seven  years  had  passed 
since  the  death  of  Sevinus,  the  young  Duke,  his  son, 
had  not  yet  repaired  to  the  court  of  Charlemagne  to 
render  the  homage  due  to  his  lawful  sovereign. 

We  have  often  had  occasion  to  admire  the  justice 
and  wisdom  of  the  advice  which  on  all  occasions  the 
Duke  Namo  of  Bavaria  gave  to  Charlemagne,  and  he 
now  discountenanced,  with  indignation,  the  selfish  ad- 
vice of  Amaury.  He  represented  to  the  Emperor  the 
early  age  of  the  children  of  Sevinus,  and  the  useful  and 
glorious  services  of  their  late  father,  and  proposed  to 
Charlemagne  to  send  two  knights  to  the  Duchess  at 
Bordeaux,  to  summon  her  two  sons  to  the  court  of  the 
Emperor,  to  pay  their  respects  and  render  homage. 

Charlemagne  approved  this  advice,  and  sent  two 
chevaliers  to  demand  the  two  young  princes  of  their 
mother.  No  sooner  had  the  Duchess  learned  the  ap- 
proach of  the  two  knights,  than  she  sent  distinguished 
persons  to  receive  them  ;  and  as  soon  as  they  entered 
the  palace  she  presented  herself  before  them,  with  her 
elder  and  younger  sons,  Huon  and  Girard. 

The  deputies,  delighted  with  the  honors  and  ca- 
resses they  received,  accompanied  with  rich  presents, 
left  Bordeaux  with  regret  and  on  their  return  rep- 
resented to  Charlemagne  that  the  young  Duke  Huon 
seemed  born  to  tread  in  the  footsteps  of  his  brave 
father,  informing  him  that  in  three  months  the  young 
princes  of  Guienne  would  present  themselves  at  his 
court. 

The  Duchess  employed  the  short  interval  in  giving 
her  sons  her  last  instructions.  Huon  received  them  in 
hjs  heart,  and  Girard  gave  as  much  heed  to  them  as 
could  be  expected  from  one  so  young. 


214         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

The  preparations  for  their  departure  having  been 
made,  the  Duchess  embraced  them  tenderly,  commend- 
ing them  to  the  care  'of  Heaven,  and  charged  them  to 
call,  on  their  way,  at  the  celebrated  monastery  of 
Cluny,  to  visit  the  Abbot,  the  brother  of  their  father. 
This  Abbot,  worthy  of  his  high  dignity,  had  never 
lost  an  opportunity  of  doing  good,  setting  an  example 
of  every  excellence,  and  making  virtue  attractive  by 
his  example. 

He  received  his  nephews  with  the  greatest  magnifi- 
cence ;  and,  aware  how  useful  his  presence  might  be 
to  them  with  Charlemagne,  whose  valued  counsellor 
he  was,  he  took  with  them  the  road  to  Paris. 

When  Amaury  learned  what  reception  the  two  dep- 
uties of  Charlemagne  had  received  at  Bordeaux,  and 
the  arrangements  made  for  the  visit  of  the  young 
princes  to  the  Emperor's  court,  he  suggested  to  Char- 
lot  to  give  him  a  troop  of  his  guards,  with  which  he 
proposed  to  lay  wait  for  the  young  men  in  the  wood 
of  Montlery,  put  them  to  death,  and  thereby  give  the 
prince  Chariot  possession  of  the  duchy  of  Guienne. 

A  plan  of  treachery  and  violence  agreed  but  too 
well  with  Chariot's  disposition.  He  not  only  adopted 
the  suggestion  of  Amaury,  but  insisted  upon  taking  a 
part  in  it.  They  went  out  secretly,  by  night,  fol- 
lowed by  a  great  number  of  attendants,  all  armed  in 
black,  to  lie  in  ambuscade  in  the  wood  where  the 
brothers  were  to  pass. 

Girard,  the  younger  of  the  two,  having  amused 
himself  as  he  rode  by  flying  his  hawk  at  such  game 
as  presented  itself,  had  ridden  in  advance  of  his 
brother  and  the  Abbot  of  Cluny.  Chariot,  who  saw 
him  coming,  alone  and  unarmed,  went  forth  to  meet 
him,  sought  a  quarrel  with  him,  and  threw  him  from 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  215 

his  horse  with  a  stroke  of  his  lance.  Girard  uttered  a 
cry  as  he  fell  ;  Huon  heard  it,  and  flew  to  his  defence, 
with  no  other  weapon  than  his -sword.  He  came  up 
with  him,  and  saw  the  blood  flowing  from  his  wound. 
"  What  has  this  child  done  to  you,  wretch  ?  "  he  ex- 
claimed to  Chariot.  "  How  cowardly  to  attack  him 
when  unprepared  to  defend  himself!"  "By  my 
faith,"  said  Chariot,  "  I  mean  to  do  the  same  by  you. 
Know  that  I  am  the  son  of  Duke  Thierry  of  Ardennes, 
from  whom  your  father,  Sevinus,  took  three  castles  ; 
I  have  sworn  to  avenge  him,  and  I  defy  you," 
"Coward,"  answered  Huon,  ''  I  know  well  the 
baseness  that  dwells  in  your  race ;  worthy  son  of 
Thierry,  use  the  ad  vantage  that  your  armor  gives  you  ; 
but  know  that  I  fear  you  not."  At  these  words 
Chariot  had  the  wickedness  to  put  his  lance  in  rest, 
and  to  run  upon  Huon,  who  had  barely  time  to  wrap 
his  arm  in  his  mantle.  With  this  feeble  buckler  he 
received  the  thrust  of  the  lance.  It  penetrated  the 
mantle,  but  missed  his  body.  Then,  rising  upon  his 
stirrups,  Sir  Huon  struck  Chariot  so  terrible  a  blow 
with  his  sword  that  the  helmet  was  cleft  asunder,  and 
his  head  too.  The  dastardly  prince  fell  dead  upon 
the  ground. 

Huon  now  perceived  that  the  wood  was  full  of 
armed  men.  He  called  the  men  of  his  suite,  and  they 
hastily  put  themselves  in  order,  but  nobody  issued 
from  the  wood  to  attack  him.  Amaury,  who  saw 
Chariot's  fall,  had  no  desire  to  compromit  himself; 
and,  feeling  sure  that  Charlemagne  would  avenge  the 
death  of  his  son,  he  saw  no  occasion  for  his  doing 
anything  more  at  present.  He  left  Huon  and  the 
Abbot  of  Cluny  to  bind  up  the  wound  of  Girard, 
and,  having  seen  them  depart  and  resume  their  way 


216         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

to  Paris,  he  took  up  the  body  of  Chariot,  and,  placing 
it  across  a  horse,  had  it  carried  to  Paris,  where  he 
arrived  four  hours  after  Huon. 

The  Abbot  of  Cluny  presented  his  nephew  to 
Charlemagne,  but  Huon  refrained  from  paying  his 
obeisance,  complaining  grievously  of  the  ambush  which 
had  been  set  for  him,  which  he  said  could  not  have 
been  without  the  Emperor's  permission.  Charle- 
magne, surprised  at  a  charge  which  his  magnanimous 
soul  was  incapable  of  meriting,  asked  eagerly  of  the 
Abbot  what  were  the  grounds  of  the  complaints  of  his 
nephew.  The  Abbot  told  him  faithfully  all  that  had 
happened,  informing  him  that  a  coward  knight,  who 
called  himself  the  son  of  Thierry  of  Ardennes,  had 
wounded  Girard,  and  run  upon  Huon,  who  was  un- 
armed ;  but  by  his  force  and  valor  he  had  overcome 
the  traitor,  and  left  him  dead  upon  the  plain. 

Charlemagne  indignantly  disavowed  any  connection 
with  the  action  of  the  infamous  Thierry,  congratulated 
the  young  Duke  upon  his  victory,  himself  conducted 
the  two  brothers  to  a  rich  apartment,  stayed  to  see 
the  first  dressing  applied  to  the  wound  of  Girard,  and 
left  the  brothers  in  charge  of  Duke  Namo  of  Bavaria, 
who,  having  been  a  companion  in  arms  of  the  Duke 
Sevinus,  regarded  the  young  men  almost  as  if  they 
were  his  own  sons. 

Charlemagne  had  hardly  quitted  them  when,  re- 
turning to  his  chamber,  he  heard  cries,  and  saw 
through  the  window  a  party  of  armed  men  just  ar- 
rived. He  recognized  Amaury,  who  bore  a  dead 
knight  stretched  across  a  horse  ;  and  the  name  of  Char- 
lot  was  heard  among  the  exclamations  of  the  people 
assembled  in  the  court-yard. 

Charles's  partiality  for  this  unworthy  son  was  one 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  217 

of  his  weaknesses.  He  descended  in  trepidation  to 
the  court-yard,  ran  to  Amaury,  and  uttered  a  cry  of 
grief  on  recognizing  Chariot.  "It  is  Huon  of  Bor- 
deaux," said  the  traitor  Amaury,  "who  has  massa- 
cred your  son  before  it  was  in  my  power  to  defend 
him."  Charlemagne,  furious  at  these  words,  seized 
a  sword,  and  flew  to  the  apartment  of  the  two  brothers 
to  plunge  it  into  the  heart  of  the  murderer  of  his  son. 
Duke  Namo  stopped  his  hand  for  an  instant,  while 
Charles  told  him  the  crime  of  which  Huon  was  ac- 
cused. "  He  is  a  peer  of  the  realm,"  said  Namo, 
"  and  if  he  is  guilty,  is  he  not  here  In  your  power, 
and  are  not  we  peers  the  proper  judges  to  condemn 
him  to  death  ?  Let  not  your  hand  be  stained  with 
his  blood."  The  Emperor,  calmed  by  the  wisdom 
of  Duke  Namo,  summoned  Amaury  to  his  presence. 
The  peers  assembled  to  hear  his  testimony,  and  the 
traitor  accused  Huon  of  Bordeaux  of  having  struck  the 
fatal  blow  without  allowing  Chariot  an  opportunity 
to  defend  himself,  and  though  he  knew  that  his  oppo- 
nent was  the  Emperor's  eldest  son. 

The  Abbot  of  Cluny,  indignant  at  the  false  accusa- 
tion of  Amaury,  advanced,  and  said,  "  By  Saint  Bene- 
dict, sire,  the  traitor  lies  in  his  throat.  If  my  nephew 
has  slain  Chariot  it  was  in  his  own  defence,  and  after 
having  seen  his  brother  wounded  by  him,  and  also  in 
ignorance  that  his  adversary  was  the  prince.  Though 
I  am  a  son  of  the  Church,"  added  the  good  Abbot, 
"  I  forget  not  that  I  am  a  knight  by  birth.  I  offer  to 
prove  with  my  body  the  lie  upon  Amaury,  if  he  dares 
sustain  it,  and  I  shall  feel  that  I  am  doing  a  better  work 
to  punish  a  disloyal  traitor,  than  to  sing  lauds  and 
matins." 

Huon  to  this  time  had  kept  silent,  amazed  at  the 


218         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

black  calumny  of  Amaury  ;  but  now  he  stepped  forth, 
and,  addressing  Amaury,  said  :  "Traitor!  darest  thou 
maintain  in  arms  the  lie  thou  hast  uttered  ?  "  Amaury, 
a  knight  of  great  prowess,  despising  the  youth  and 
slight  figure  of  Huon,  hesitated  not  to  offer  his  glove, 
which  Huon  seized;  then,  turning  again  to  the  peers, 
he  said:  "I  pray  you  let  the  combat  be  allowed  me, 
for  never  was  there  a  more  legitimate  cause."  The 
Duke  Namo  and  the  rest,  deciding  that  the  question 
should  be  remitted  to  the  judgment  of  Heaven,  the 
combat  was  ordained,  to  which  Charlemagne  unwil- 
lingly consented.  The  young  Duke  was  restored  to 
the  charge  of  Duke  Namo,  who  the  next  morning  in- 
vested him  with  the  honors  of  knighthood,  and  gave 
him  armor  of  proof,  with  a  white  shield.  The  Abbot 
of  Cluny,  delighted  to  find  in  his  nephew  sentiments 
worthy  of  his  birth,  embraced  him,  gave  him  his  bless- 
ing, and  hastened  to  the  church  of  St.  Germains  to 
pray  for  him,  while  the  officers  of  the  king  prepared 
the  lists  for  the  combat. 

The  battle  was  long  and  obstinate.  The  address 
and  agility  of  Huon  enabled  him  to  avoid  the  terrible 
blows  which  the  ferocious  Amaury  aimed  at  him.  But 
Huon  had  more  than  once  drawn  blood  from  his 
antagonist.  The  effect  began  to  be  perceived  in  the 
failing  strength  of  the  traitor  ;  at  last  he  threw  him- 
self from  his  horse,  and  kneeling,  begged  for  mercy. 
"Spare  me,"  he  said,  "  and  I  will  confess  all.  Aid 
me  to  rise,  and  lead  me  to  Charlemagne. "  The  brave 
and  loyal  Huon,  at  these  words,  put  his  sword  under 
his  left  arm,  and  stretched  out  his  right  to  raise  the 
prostrate  man,  who  seized  the  opportunity  to  give  him 
a  thrust  in  the  side.  The  hauberk  of  Huon  resisted 
the  blow,  and  he  was  wounded  but  slightly.  Trans- 


HUON   OF    BORDEAUX.  219 

ported  with  rage  at  this  act  of  baseness,  he  forgot  how 
necessary  for  his  complete  acquittal  the  confession  of 
Amaury  was,  and  without  delay  dealt  him  the  fatal 
blow. 

Duke  Namo  and  the  other  peers  approached,  had 
the  body  of  Amaury  dragged  forth  from  the  lists,  and 
conducted  Huon  to  Charlemagne.  The  Emperor,  how- 
ever, listening  to  nothing  but  his  resentment  and  grief 
for  the  death  of  his  son,  refused  to  be  satisfied  ;  and 
under  the  plea  that  Huon  had  not  succeeded  in  making 
his  accuser  retract  his  charge  seemed  resolved  to  con- 
fiscate his  estates  and  to  banish  him  forever  from 
France.  It  was  not  till  after  long  entreaties  on  the 
part  of  Duke  Namo  and  the  rest  that  he  consented  to 
grant  Huon  his  pardon,  under  conditions  which  he 
should  impose. 

Huon  approached,  and  knelt  before  the  Emperor, 
rendered  him  homage,  and  cried  him  mercy  for  the 
involuntary  killing  of  his  son.  Charlemagne  would 
not  receive  the  hands  of  Huon  in  his  own,  but 
touched  him  with  his  sceptre,  saying,  "I  receive  thy 
homage,  and  pardon  thee  the  death  of  my  son,  but 
only  on  one  condition.  You  shall  go  immediately  to 
the  court  of  the  Sultan  Gaudisso  ;  you  shall  present 
yourself  before  him  as  he  sits  at  meat ;  you  shall  cut 
off  the  head  of  the  most  illustrious  guest  whom  you 
shall  find  sitting  nearest  to  him  ;  you  shall  kiss  three 
times  on  the  mouth  the  fair  princess,  his  daughter, 
and  you  shall  demand  of  the  Sultan,  as  token  of  tribute 
to  me,  a  handful  of  the  white  hair  of  his  beard,  and 
four  grinders  from  his  mouth." 

These  conditions  caused  a  murmur  from  all  the 
assembly.  "What!"  said  the  Abbot  of  Cluny  ; 
"  slaughter  a  Saracen  prince  without  first  offering  him 


220         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

baptism  ?  "  "  The  second  condition  is  not  so  hard," 
said  the  young  peers,  "  but  the  demand  that  Huon  is 
bound  to  make  of  the  old  Sultan  is  very  uncivil,  and 
will  be  hard  to  obtain." 

The  Emperor's  obstinacy  when  he  had  once  re- 
solved upon  a  thing  is  well  known.  To  the  courage 
of  Huon  nothing  seemed  impossible.  "I  accept  the 
conditions,"  said  he,  silencing  the  intercessions  of  the 
old  Duke  of  Bavaria  ;  "  my  liege,  I  accept  my  pardon 
at  this  price.  I  go  to  execute  your  commands,  as 
your  vassal  and  a  peer  of  France. ' ' 

The  Duke  Namo  and  Abbot  of  Cluny,  being  una- 
ble to  obtain  any  relaxation  of  the  sentence  passed  by 
Charlemagne,  led  forth  the  young  Duke,  who  deter- 
mined to  set  out  at  once  on  his  expedition.  All  that 
the  good  Abbot  could  obtain  of  him  was,  that  he 
should  prepare  for  this  perilous  undertaking  by  going 
first  to  Rome,  to  pay  his  homage  to  the  Pope,  who 
was  the  brother  of  the  Duchess  Alice,  Huon's  mother, 
and  from  him  demand  absolution  and  his  blessing. 
Huon  promised  it,  and  forthwith  set  out  on  his  way  to 
Rome. 


HUON   OF   BORDEAUX. 

(Continued.} 

HUON,  having  traversed  the  Apennines  and  Italy, 
arrived  at  the  environs  of  Rome,  where,  laying  aside 
his  armor,  he  assumed  the  dress  of  a  pilgrim.  In  this 
attire  he  presented  himself  before  the  Pope,  and  not 
till  after  he  had  made  a  full  confession  of  his  sins  did 
he  announce  himself  as  his  nephew.  "Ah  !  my  dear 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  221 

nephew,"  exclaimed  the  Holy  Father,  "what  harder 
penance  could  I  impose  than  the  Emperor  has  already 
done?  Go  in  peace,  my  son,"  he  added,  absolving 
him,  "  I  go  to  intercede  for  you  with  the  Most  High." 
Then  he  led  his  nephew  into  his  palace,  and  introduced 
him  to  all  the  Cardinals  and  Princes  of  Rome  as  the 
Duke  of  Guienne,  son  of  the  Duchess  Alice,  his 
sister. 

Huon,  at  setting  out,  had  made  a  vow  not  to  stop 
more  than  three  days  in  a  place.  The  Holy  Father 
took  advantage  of  this  time  to  inspire  him  with  zeal  for 
the  glory  of  Christianity,  and  with  confidence  in  the 
protection  of  the  Most  High.  He  advised  him  to 
embark  for  Palestine,  to  visit  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and 
to  depart  thence  for  the  interior  of  Asia. 

Loaded  with  the  blessings  of  the  Holy  Father, 
Huon,  obeying  his  counsels,  embarked  for  Palestine, 
arrived,  and  visited  with  the  greatest  reverence  the 
holy  places.  He  then  departed,  and  took  his  way  to- 
ward the  east.  But,  ignorant  of  the  country  and  of 
the  language,  he  lost  himself  in  a  forest,  and  remained 
three  days  without  seeing  a  human  creature,  living  on 
honey  and  wild  fruits  which  he  found  on  the  trees. 
The  third  day,  seeking  a  passage  through  a  rocky 
defile,  he  beheld  a  man  in  tattered  clothing,  whose 
beard  and  hair  covered  his  breast  and  shoulders. 
This  man  stopped  on  seeing  him,  observed  him,  and 
recognized  the  arms  and  bearing  of  a  French  knight. 
He  immediately  approached,  and  exclaimed,  in  the 
language  of  the  South  of  France,  "  God  be  praised  ! 
Do  I  indeed  behold  a  chevalier  of  my  own  country, 
after  fifteen  years  passed  in  this  desert  without  seeing 
the  face  of  a  fellow-countryman?  " 

Huon,  to  gratify  him  still  more,  unlaced  his  helmet, 


222         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  came  towards  him  with  a  smiling  countenance. 
The  other  regarded  him  with  more  surprise  than  at 
first.  "  Good  Heaven  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  was  there 
ever  such  a  resemblance  ?  Ah,  noble  sir,"  he  added, 
"  tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  of  what  country  and  race 
you  come  ?"  "  I  require,"  replied  Huon,  "before 
telling  you  mine,  that  you  first  reveal  your  own  ;  let  it 
suffice  you  at  present  to  know  that  I  am  a  Christian, 
and  that  in  Guienne  I  was  born."  "Ah!  Heaven 
grant  that  my  eyes  and  my  heart  do  not  deceive  me," 
exclaimed  the  unknown  ;  "  my  name  is  Sherasmin  ;  I 
am  brother  to  Guire,  the  Mayor  of  Bordeaux.  I  was 
taken  prisoner  in  the  battle  where  my  dear  and  illus- 
trious master,  Sevinus,  lost  his  life.  For  three  years 
J  endured  the  miseries  of  slavery  ;  at  length  I  broke 
my  chains  and  escaped  to  this  desert,  where  I  have 
sustained  myself  in  solitude  ever  since.  Your  features 
recall  to  me  my  beloved  sovereign,  in  whose  service  I 
was  from  my  infancy  till  his  death."  Huon  made  no 
reply  but  by  embracing  the  old  man,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes.  Then  Sherasmin  learned  that  his  arms  enfolded 
the  son  of  the  Duke  Sevinus.  He  led  him  to  his 
cabin,  and  spread  before  him  the  dry  fruits  and  honey 
which  formed  his  only  aliment. 

Huon  recounted  his  adventures  to  Sherasmin,  who 
was  moved  to  tears  at  the  recital.  He  then  consulted 
him  on  the  means  of  conducting  his  enterprise.  She- 
rasmin hesitated  not  to  confess  that  success  seemed  im- 
possible ;  nevertheless  he  swore  a  solemn  oath  never  to 
abandon  him.  The  Saracen  language,  which  he  was 
master  of,  would  be  serviceable  to  them  when  they 
should  leave  the  desert,  and  mingle  with  men. 

They  took  the  route  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  entered 
Arabia.  Their  way  lay  through  a  region  which  She- 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  223 

rasmin  described  as  full  of  terrors.  It  was  inhabited 
by  Oberon,  King  of  the  Fairies,  who  made  captive 
such  knights  as  were  rash  enough  to  penetrate  into  it, 
and  transformed  them  into  Hobgoblins.  It  was  possi- 
ble to  avoid  this  district  at  the  expense  of  somewhar 
lengthening  their  route  ;  but  no  dangers  could  deter 
Huon  of  Bordeaux  ;  and  the  brave  Sherasmin,  who  had 
now  resumed  the  armor  of  a  knight,  reluctantly  con- 
sented to  share  with  him  the  dangers  of  the  shorter 
route. 

They  entered  a  wood,  and  arrived  at  a  spot  whence 
alleys  branched  off  in  various  directions.  One  of  them 
seemed  to  be  terminated  by  a  superb  palace,  whose 
gilded  roofs  were  adorned  with  brilliant  weathercocks 
covered  with  diamonds.  A  superb  chariot  issued  from 
the  gate  of  the  palace,  and  drove  toward  Huon  and  his 
companion,  as  if  to  meet  them  half-way.  The  prince 
saw  no  one  in  the  chariot  but  a  child  apparently  about 
five  years  old,  very  beautiful,  and  clad  in  a  robe  which 
glittered  with  precious  stones.  At  the  sight  of  him, 
Sherasmin's  terror  was  extreme.  He  seized  the  reins 
of  Huon's  horse,  and  turned  him  about,  hurrying  the 
prince  away,  and  assuring  him  that  they  were  lost  if 
they  stopped  to  parley  with  the  mischievous  dwarf, 
who,  though  he  appeared  a  child,  was  full  of  years 
and  of  treachery.  Huon  was  sorry  to  lose  sight  of  the 
beautiful  dwarf,  whose  aspect  had  nothing  in  it  to 
alarm  ;  yet  he  followed  his  friend,  who  urged  on  his 
horse  with  all  possible  speed.  Presently  a  storm  began 
to  roar  through  the  forest,  the  daylight  grew  dim,  and 
they  found  their  way  with  difficulty.  From  time  to 
time  they  seemed  to  hear  an  infantine  voice,  which 
said,  "  Stop,  Duke  Huon  ;  listen  to  me  :  it  is  in  vain 
you  fly  me  !  " 


224         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Sherasmin  only  fled  the  faster,  and  stopped  not  until 
he  had  reached  the  gate  of  a  monastery  of  monks  and 
nuns,  the  two  communities  of  which  were  assembled  at 
that  time  in  a  religious  procession.  Sherasmin,  feeling 
safe  from  the  malice  of  the  dwarf  in  the  presence  of 
so  many  holy  persons  and  the  sacred  banners,  stopped 
to  ask  an  asylum,  and  made  Huon  dismount  also.  But 
at  that  moment  they  were  joined  by  the  dwarf,  who 
blew  a  blast  upon  an  ivory  horn  which  hung  from  his 
neck.  Immediately  the  good  Sherasmin,  in  spite  of 
himself,  began  to  dance  like  a  young  collegian,  and 
seizing  the  hand  of  an  aged  nun,  who  felt  as  if  it  would 
be  her  death,  they  footed  it  briskly  over  the  grass,  and 
were  imitated  by  all  the  other  monks  and  nuns, 
mingled  together,  forming  the  strangest  dancing-party 
ever  beheld.  Huon  alone  felt  no  disposition  to  dance  ; 
but  he  came  near  dying  of  laughter  at  seeing  the  ridicu- 
lous postures  and  leaps  of  the  others. 

The  dwarf,  approaching  Huon,  said,  in  a  sweet 
voice,  and  in  Huon's  own  language,  "  Duke  of  Gui- 
enne,  why  do  you  shun  me  ?  I  conjure  you,  in 
Heaven's  name,  speak  to  me."  Huon,  hearing  him- 
self addressed  in  this  serious  manner,  and  knowing  that 
no  evil  spirit  would  dare  to  use  the  holy  name  in  aid 
of  his  schemes,  replied,  "  Sir,  whoever  you  are,  I  am 
ready  to  hear  and  answer  you."  "  Huon,  my  friend," 
continued  the  dwarf,  "  I  always  loved  your  race,  and 
you  have  been  dear  to  me  ever  since  your  birth.  The 
gracious  state  of  conscience  in  which  you  were  when 
you  entered  my  wood  has  protected  you  from  all  en- 
chantments, even  if  I  had  intended  to  practise  any 
upon  you.  If  these  monks,  these  nuns,  and  even  your 
friend  Sherasmin,  had  had  a  conscience  as  pure  as 
vours,  my  horn  would  not  have  set  them  dancing  ; 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  225 

but  where  is  the  monk  or  the  nun  who  can  always  be 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  the  tempter,  and  Sherasmin  in  the 
desert  has  often  doubted  the  power  of  Providence. " 

At  these  words  Huon  saw  the  dancers  overcome 
with  exertion.  He  begged  mercy  for  them,  the  dwarf 
granted  it,  and  the  effect  of  the  horn  ceased  at  once ; 
the  nuns  got  rid  of  their  partners,  smoothed  their 
dresses,  and  hastened  to  resume  their  places  in  the 
procession.  Sherasmin,  overcome  with  heat,  panting, 
and  unable  to  stand  on  his  legs,  threw  himself  upon  the 
grass,  and  began,  "  Did  not  I  tell  you" —  He  was 
going  on  in  an  angry  tone,  but  the  dwarf,  approaching, 
said,  "  Sherasmin,  why  have  you  murmured  against 
Providence  ?  Why  have  you  thought  evil  of  me  ?  You 
deserved  this  light  punishment  ;  but  I  know  you  to  be 
good  and  loyal  ;  I  mean  to  show  myself  your  friend, 
as  you  shall  soon  see."  At  these  words  he  presented 
him  a  rich  goblet.  "  Make  the  sign  of  the  cross  on 
this  cup,"  said  he,  "  and  then  believe  that  I  hold  my 
power  from  the  God  you  adore,  whose  faithful  servant 
I  am,  as  well  as  you.  Sherasmin  obeyed,  and  on  the 
instant  the  cup  was  filled  with  delicious  wine,  a  draught 
of  which  restored  vigor  to  his  limbs,  and  made  him  feel 
young  again.  Overcome  with  gratitude,  he  threw 
himself  on  his  knees,  but  the  dwarf  raised  him,  and 
bade  him  sit  beside  him,  and  thus  commenced  his  his- 
tory : 

"Julius  Cassar,  going  by  sea  to  join  his  army,  was 
driven  by  a  storm  to  take  shelter  in  the  island  of 
Celea,  where  dwelt  the  fairy  Glorianda.  From  this 
renowned  pair  I  draw  my  birth.  I  am  the  inheritor 
of  that  which  was  most  admirable  in  each  of  my 
parents  :  my  father's  heroic  qualities,  and  my  mother's 
beauty  and  magic  art.  But  a  malicious  sister  of  my 


lib         LEGENDS    OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

mother's,  in  revenge  for  some  slight  offence,  touched 
me  with  her  wand  when  1  was  only  five  years  old, 
and  forbade  me  to  grow  any  bigger  ;  and  my  mother, 
with  all  her  power,  was  unable  to  annul  the  sentence. 
I  have  thus  continued  infantile  in  appearance,  though 
full  of  years  and  experience.  The  power  which  I  de- 
rive from  my  mother  I  use  sometimes  for  my  own 
diversion,  but  always  to  promote  justice  and  to  reward 
virtue.  I  am  able  and  willing  to  assist  you,  Duke  of 
Guienne,  for  I  know  the  errand  on  which  you  come 
hither.  I  presage  for  you,  if  you  follow  my  counsels, 
complete  success  ;  and  the  beautiful  Clarimunda  for  a 
wife." 

When  he  had  thus  spoken  he  presented  to  Huon 
the  precious  and  useful  cup,  which  had  the  faculty  of 
filling  itself  when  a  good  man  took  it  in  his  hand. 
He  gave  him  also  his  beautiful  horn  of  ivory,  saying 
to  him,  "  Huon,  when  you  sound  this  gently,  you 
will  make  the  hearers  dance,  as  you  have  seen  ;  but 
if  you  sound  it  forcibly,  fear  not  that  I  shall  hear  it, 
though  at  a  hundred  leagues'  distance,  and  will  fly  to 
your  relief;  but  be  careful  not  to  sound  it  in  that  way, 
unless  upon  the  most  urgent  occasion." 

Oberon  directed  Huon  what  course  he  should  take 
to  reach  the  country  of  the  Sultan  Gaudisso.  "  You 
will  encounter  great  perils,"  said  he,  "before  arriving 
there,  and  I  fear  me,"  he  added,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  "that  you  will  not  in  everything  obey  my  di- 
rections, and  in  that  case  you  will  suffer  much  calam- 
ity." Then  he  embraced  Huon  and  Sherasmin,  and 
left  them. 

Huon  and  his  follower  travelled  many  days  through 
the  desert  before  they  reached  any  inhabited  place, 
and  all  this  while  the  wonderful  cup  sustained  them, 


HUON   OF    BORDEAUX.  227 

furnishing  them  not  only  wine,  but  food  also.  At  last 
they  came  to  a  great  city.  As  day  was  declining, 
they  entered  its  suburbs,  and  Sherasmin,  who  spoke 
the  Saracen  language  perfectly,  inquired  for  an  inn 
where  they  could  pass  the  night.  A  person  who  ap- 
peared to  be  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  seeing 
two  strangers  of  respectable  appearance  making  this 
inquiry,  stepped  forward  and  begged  them  to  accept 
the  shelter  of  his  mansion.  They  entered,  and  their 
host  did  the  honors  of  his  abode  with  a  politeness 
which  they  were  astonished  to  see  in  a  Saracen.  He 
had  them  served  with  coffee  and  sherbet,  and  all  was 
conducted  with  great  decorum,  till  one  of  the  servants 
awkwardly  overturned  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  on  the 
host's  legs,  when  he  started  up,  exclaiming  in  very 
good  Gascon,  "  Blood  and  thunder  !  you  blockhead, 
you  deserve  to  be  thrown  over  the  mosque  ! ' ' 

Huon  could  not  help  laughing  to  see  the  vivacity 
and  the  language  of  his  country  thus  break  out  un- 
awares. The  host,  who  had  no  idea  that  his  guests 
understood  his  words,  was  astonished  when  Huon 
addressed  him  in  the  dialect  of  his  country.  Im- 
mediately confidence  was  established  between  them  ; 
especially  when  the  domestics  had  retired.  The  host, 
seeing  that  he  was  discovered,  and  that  the  two  pre- 
tended Saracens  were  from  the  borders  of  the  Ga- 
ronne, embraced  them,  and  disclosed  that  he  was  a 
Christian.  Huon,  who  had  learned  prudence  from  the 
advice  of  Oberon,  to  test  his  host's  sincerity,  drew 
from  his  robe  the  cup  which  the  Fairy -king  had  given 
him,  and  presented  it  empty  to  the  host.  "A  fair 
cup,"  said  he,  "but  I  should  like  it  better  if  it  was 
full."  Immediately  it  was  so.  The  host,  astonished, 
dared  not  put  it  to  his  lips.  "  Drink  boldly,  my  dear 


228         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

fellow-countryman,"  said  Huon  ;  "  your  truth  is  proved 
by  this  cup,  which  only  fills  itself  in  the  hands  of  an 
honest  man."  The  host  did  not  hesitate  longer  ;  the 
cup  passed  freely  from  hand  to  hand  ;  their  mutual 
cordiality  increased  as  it  passed,  and  each  recounted 
his  adventures.  Those  of  Huon  redoubled  his  host's 
respect ;  for  he  recognized  in  him  his  legitimate  sover- 
eign :  while  the  host's  narrative  was  in  these  words  : 

"  My  name  is  Floriac  ;  this  great  and  strong  city, 
you  will  hear  with  surprise  and  grief,  is  governed  by 
a  brother  of  Duke  Sevinus,  and  your  uncle.  You 
have  no  doubt  heard  that  a  young  brother  of  the 
Duke  of  Guienne  was  stolen  away  from  the  sea-shore, 
with  his  companions,  by  some  corsairs.  I  was  then 
his  page,  and  we  were  carried  by  those  corsairs  to 
Barbary,  where  we  were  sold  for  slaves.  The  Bar- 
bary  prince  sent  us  as  part  of  the  tribute  which  he 
yearly  paid  to  his  sovereign,  the  Sultan  Gaudisso. 
Your  uncle,  who  had  been  somewhat  puffed  up  by 
the  flattery  of  his  attendants,  thought  to  increase  his 
importance  with  his  new  master  by  telling  him  his 
rank.  The  Sultan,  who,  like  a  true  Mussulman,  de- 
tested all  Christian  princes,  exerted  himself  from  that 
moment  to  bring  him  over  to  the  Saracen  faith.  He 
succeeded  but  too  well.  Your  uncle,  seduced  by  the 
arts  of  the  Santons,  and  by  the  pleasures  and  indul- 
gences which  the  Sultan  allowed  him,  committed  the 
horrid  crime  of  apostasy  ;  he  renounced  his  baptism, 
and  embraced  Mahometanism.  Gaudisso  then  loaded 
him  with  honors,  made  him  espouse  one  of  his  neices, 
and  sent  him  to  reign  over  this  city  and  adjoining 
country.  Your  uncle  preserved  for  me  the  same 
friendship  which  he  had  had  when  a  boy  ;  but  all 
his  caresses  and  efforts  could  not  make  me  renounce 


HUON   OF    BORDEAUX.  229 

my  faith.  Perhaps  he  respected  me  in  his  heart  for 
my  resistance  to  his  persuasions,  perhaps  he  had  hopes 
of  inducing  me  in  time  to  imitate  him.  He  made  me 
accompany  him  to  this  city,  of  which  he  was  master, 
he  gave  me  his  confidence,  and  permits  me  to  keep  in 
my  service  some  Christians,  whom  I  protect  for  the 
sake  of  their  faith." 

"  Ah  !  "  exclaimed  Huon,  "take  me  to  this  guilty 
uncle.  A  prince  of  the  house  of  Guienne,  must  he 
not  blush  at  the  cowardly  abandonment  of  the  faith 
of  his  fathers  ?" 

ft  Alas  !  "  replied  Floriac,  «'  I  fear  he  will  neither  be 
sensible  of  shame  at  your  reproaches,  nor  of  pleasure 
at  the  sight  of  a  nephew  so  worthy  of  his  lineage. 
Brutified  by  sensuality,  jealous  of  his  power,  which  he 
often  exercises  with  cruelty,  he  will  more  probably  re- 
strain you  by  force  or  put  you  to  death." 

««  Be  it  so,"  said  the  brave  and  fervent  Huon,  "I 
could  not  die  in  a  better  cause  ;  and  I  demand  of  you 
to  conduct  me  to  him  to-morrow,  after  having  told  him 
of  my  arrival  and  my  birth."  Floriac  still  objected, 
but  Huon  would  take  no  denial,  and  he  promised 
obedience. 

Next  morning  Floriac  waited  upon  the  Governor 
and  told  him  of  the  arrival  of  his  nephew,  Huon  of 
Bordeaux  ;  and  of  the  intention  of  the  prince  to  pre- 
sent himself  at  his  court  that  very  day.  The  Governor, 
surprised,  did  not  immediately  answer  ;  though  he  at 
once  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do.  He  knew  that 
Floriac  loved  Christians  and  the  princes  of  his  native 
land  too  well  to  aid  in  any  treason  to  one  of  them  ; 
he  therefore  feigned  great  pleasure  at  hearing  of  the 
arrival  of  the  eldest  born  of  his  family  at  his  court.  He 
immediately  sent  Floriac  to  find  him  ;  he  caused  his 


230        LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

palace  to  be  put  in  festal  array,  his  divan  to  be  assem- 
bled, and  after  giving  some  secret  orders,  went  him- 
self to  meet  his  nephew,  whom  he  introduced  under 
his  proper  name  and  title  to  all  the  great  officers  of  his 
court. 

Huon  burned  with  indignation  at  seeing  his  uncle 
with  forehead  encircled  with  a  rich  turban,  surmounted 
with  a  crescent  of  precious  stones.  His  natural  can- 
dor made  him  receive  with  pain  the  embraces  which 
the  treacherous  Governor  lavished  upon  him.  Mean- 
while the  hope  of  finding  a  suitable  moment  to  re- 
proach him  for  his  apostasy  made  him  submit  to  those 
honors  which  his  uncle  caused  to  be  rendered  to  him. 
The  Governor  evaded  with  address  the  chance  of  be- 
ing alone  with  Huon  and  spent  all  the  morning  in 
taking  him  through  his  gardens  and  palace.  At  last, 
when  the  hour  of  dinner  approached,  and  the  Gov- 
ernor took  him  by  the  hand  to  lead  him  into  the 
dining-hall,  Huon  seized  the  opportunity  and  said  to 
him  in  a  low  voice,  "  O  my  uncle  !  O  Prince,  brother 
of  the  Duke  Sevinus !  in  what  condition  have  I  the 
grief  and  shame  of  seeing  you  !  "  The  Governor 
pretended  to  be  moved,  pressed  his  hand,  and  whis- 
pered in  his  ear,  «« Silence  !  my  dear  nephew  ;  to- 
morrow morning  I  will  hear  you  fully." 

Huon,  comforted  a  little  by  these  words,  took  his 
seat  at  the  table  by  the  side  of  the  Governor.  The 
Mufti,  some  Cadis,  Agas,  and  Santons,  filled  the  other 
places.  Sherasmin  sat  down  with  them  ;  but  Floriac, 
who  would  not  lose  sight  of  his  guests,  remained 
standing,  and  passed  in  and  out  to  observe  what  was 
going  on  within  the  palace.  He  soon  perceived  a 
number  of  armed  men  gliding  through  the  passages 
and  antechambers  connected  with  the  dining-hall.  He 


HUON   OF  BORDEAUX.  231 

was  about  to  enter  to  give  his  guests  notice  of  what 
he  had  seen  when  he  heard  a  violent  noise  and  com- 
motion in  the  hall.  The  cause  was  this. 

Huon  and  Sherasmin  were  well  enough  suited  with 
the  first  course  and  ate  with  good  appetite  ;  but  the 
people  of  their  country  not  being  accustomed  to  drink 
only  water  at  their  meals,  Huon  and  Sherasmin  looked 
at  one  another,  not  very  well  pleased  at  such  a  regi- 
men. Huon  laughed  outright  at  the  impatience  of 
Sherasmin,  but  soon,  experiencing  the  same  want 
himself,  he  drew  forth  Oberon's  cup  and  made  the 
sign  of  the  cross.  The  cup  filled  and  he  drank  it  off, 
and  handed  it  to  Sherasmin,  who  followed  his  exam- 
ple. The  Governor  and  his  officers,  seeing  this  ab- 
horred sign,  contracted  their  brows  and  sat  in  silent 
consternation.  Huon  pretended  not  to  observe  it,  and 
having  filled  the  cup  again  handed  it  to  his  uncle, 
saying,  «« Pray  join  us,  dear  uncle ;  it  is  excellent 
Bordeaux  wine,  the  drink  that  will  be  to  you  like 
mother's  milk."  The  Governor,  who  often  drank  in 
secret  with  his  own  favorite  Sultanas  the  wines  of  Greece 
and  Shiraz,  never  in  public  drank  anything  but  water. 
He  had  not  for  a  long  time  tasted  the  excellent  wines 
of  his  native  land  ;  he  was  sorely  tempted  to  drink 
what  was  now  handed  to  him,  it  looked  so  bright  in 
the  cup,  outshining  the  gold  itself.  He  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  took  the  brimming  goblet,  and  raised 
it  to  his  lips,  when  immediately  it  dried  up  and  dis- 
appeared. Huon  and  Sherasmin,  like  Gascons  as  they 
were,  laughed  at  his  astonishment.  "  Christian  dogs  !  " 
he  exclaimed,  "  do  you  dare  to  insult  me  at  my  own 
table?  But  I  will  soon  be  revenged."  At  these 
words  he  threw  the  cup  at  the  head  of  his  nephew,  who 
caught  it  with  his  left  'hand,  while  with  the  other  he 


232         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

snatched  the  turban,  with  its  cresent,  from  the  Gov- 
ernor's head  and  threw  it  on  the  floor.  All  the 
Saracens  started  up  from  table,  with  loud  outcries,  and 
prepared  to  avenge  the  insult.  Huon  and  Sherasmin 
put  themselves  on  their  defence,  and  met  with  their 
swords  the  scimitars  directed  against  them.  At  this 
moment  the  doors  of  the  hall  opened  and  a  crowd  of 
soldiers  and  armed  eunuchs  rushed  in,  who  joined  in 
the  attack  upon  Huon  and  Sherasmin.  The  Prince 
and  his  followers  took  refuge  on  a  broad  shelf  or  side- 
board, where  they  kept  at  bay  the  crowd  of  assailants, 
making  the  most  forward  of  them  smart  for  their 
audacity.  But  more  troops  came  pressing  in  and  the 
brave  Huon,  inspired  by  the  wine  of  Bordeaux,  and 
not  angry  enough  to  lose  his  relish  for  a  joke,  blew  a 
gentle  note  on  his  horn,  and  no  sooner  was  it  heard 
than  it  quelled  the  rage  of  the  combatants  and  set  them 
to  dancing.  Huon  and  Sherasmin,  no  longer  attacked, 
looked  down  from  their  elevated  position  on  a  scene 
the  most  singular  and  amusing.  Very  soon  the  Sul- 
tanas, hearing  the  sound  of  the  dance  and  finding  their 
guards  withdrawn,  came  into  the  hall  and  mixed  with 
the  dancers.  The  favorite  Sultana  seized  upon  a  young 
Santon,  who  performed  jumps  two  feet  high  ;  but  soon 
the  long  dresses  of  this  couple  got  intermingled  and 
threw  them  down.  The  Santon' s  beard  was  caught 
in  the  Sultana's  necklace,  and  they  could  not  disentangle 
them.  The  Governor  by  no  means  approved  this 
familiarity,  and  took  two  steps  forward  to  get  at  the 
Santon,  but  he  stumbled  over  a  prostrate  Dervise  and 
measured  his  length  on  the  floor.  The  dancing  con- 
tinued till  the  strength  of  the  performers  was  exhausted, 
and  they  fell,  one  after  the  other,  and  lay  helpless. 
The  Governor  at  length  made  signs  to  Huon  that  he 


HUON   OF   BORDEAUX.  233 

would  yield  everything  if  he  would  but  allow  him  to 
rest.  The  bargain  was  ratified  ;  the  Governor  allowed 
Huon  and  Sherasmin  to  depart  on  their  way,  and 
even  gave  them  a  ring  which  would  procure  them  safe 
passage  through  his  country  and  access  to  the  Sultan 
Gaudisso.  The  two  friends  hastened  to  avail  them- 
selves of  this  favorable  turn,  and  taking  leave  of  Floriac, 
pursued  their  journey. 


HUON   OF   BORDEAUX. 

(  Continued. ) 

HUON  had  seen  many  beauties  at  his  mother's  court, 
but  his  heart  had  never  been  touched  with  love. 
Honor  had  been  his  mistress,  and  in  pursuit  of  that 
he  had  never  found  time  to  give  a  thought  to  softer 
cares.  Strange  that  a  heart  so  insensible  should  first 
be  touched  by  something  so  unsubstantial  as  a  dream  ; 
but  so  it  was. 

The  day  after  the  adventure  with  his  uncle  night 
overtook  the  travellers  as  they  passed  through  a  forest. 
A  grotto  offered  them  shelter  from  the  night  dews. 
The  magic  cup  supplied  their  evening  meal  ;  for  such 
was  its  virtue  that  it  afforded  not  only  wine,  but  more 
solid  fare  when  desired.  Fatigue  soon  threw  them 
into  profound  repose.  Lulled  by  the  murmur  of  the 
foliage,  and  breathing  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers, 
Huon  dreamed  that  a  lady  more  beautiful  than  he  had 
ever  before  seen  hung  over  him  and  imprinted  a  kiss 
upon  his  lips.  As  he  stretched  out  his  arms  to  em- 
brace her  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  swept  her  away. 

Huon    awoke    in    an    agony    of    regret.       A    few 


234         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

moments  sufficed  to  afford  some  .consolation  in  show- 
ing him  that  what  had  passed  was  but  a  dream  ;  but 
his  perplexity  and  sadness  could  not  escape  the  notice 
of  Sherasmin.  Huon  hesitated  not  to  inform  his  faith- 
ful follower  of  the  reason  of  his  pensiveness  ;  and 
got  nothing  in  return  but  his  rallyings  for  allowing 
himself  to  be  disturbed  by  such  a  cause.  He  recom- 
mended a  draught  from  the  fairy  goblet,  and  Huon 
tried  it  with  good  effect. 

At  early  dawn  they  resumed  their  way.  They 
travelled  till  high  noon,  but  said  little  to  one  another. 
Huon  was  musing  on  his  dream,  and  Sherasmin' s 
thoughts  flew  back  to  his  early  days  on  the  banks  of 
the  flowery  Garonne. 

On  a  sudden  they  were  startled  by  the  cry  of  dis- 
tress, and  turning  an  angle  of  the  wood,  came  where 
a  knight  hard  pressed  was  fighting  with  a  furious  lion. 
The  knight's  horse  lay  dead,  and  it  seemed  as  if  an- 
other moment  would  end  the  combat,  for  terror  and 
fatigue  had  quite  disabled  the  knight  for  further  resist- 
ance. He  fell,  and  the  lion's  paw  was  raised  over 
him,  when  a  blow  from  Huon's  sword  turned  the 
monster's  rage  upon  a  new  enemy.  His  roar  shook 
the  forest,  and  he  crouched  in  act  to  spring,  when, 
with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  Huon  plunged  his  sword 
into  his  side.  He  rolled  over  on  the  plain  in  the 
agonies  of  death. 

They  raised  the  knight  from  the  ground,  and  She- 
rasmin hastened  to  offer  him  a  draught  from  the  fairy 
cup.  The  wine  sparkled  to  the  brim,  and  the  warrior 
put  forth  his  lips  to  quaff  it,  but  it  shrunk  away,  and 
did  not  even  wet  his  lips.  He  dashed  the  goblet  an- 
grily on  the  ground,  with  an  exclamation  of  resent- 
ment. This  incident  did  not  tend  to  make  either  party 


HUON    OF    BORDEAUX.  235 

more  acceptable  to  the  other  ;  and  what  followed  was 
worse.  For  when  Huon  said,  "  Sir  knight,  thank 
God  for  your  deliverance,"  —  "Thank  Mahomet, 
rather,  yourself,"  said  he,  "  for  he  has  led  you  this 
day  to  render  service  to  no  less  a  personage  than  the 
Prince  of  Hyrcania." 

At  the  sound  of  this  blasphemy  Huon  drew  his 
sword  and  turned  upon  the  miscreant,  who,  little  dis- 
posed to  encounter  the  prowess  of  which  he  had  so 
lately  seen  proof,  betook  himself  to  flight.  He  ran  to 
Huon's  horse,  and  lightly  vaulting  on  his  back, 
clapped  spurs  to  his  side,  and  galloped  out  of  sight. 

The  adventure  was  vexatious,  yet  there  was  no 
remedy.  The  prince  and  Sherasmin  continued  their 
journey  with  the  aid  of  the  remaining  horse  as  they 
best  might.  At  length,  as  evening  set  in,  they  de- 
scried the  pinnacles  and  towers  of  a  great  city  full  be- 
fore them,  which  they  knew  to  be  the  famous  city  of 
Bagdad. 

They  were  well-nigh  exhausted  with  fatigue  when 
they  arrived  at  its  precincts,  and  in  the  darkness,  not 
knowing  what  course  to  take,  were  glad  to  meet  an 
aged  woman,  who,  in  reply  to  their  inquiries,  offered 
them  such  accommodations  as  her  cottage  could  supply. 
They  thankfully  accepted  the  offer,  and  entered  the 
low  door.  The  good  dame  busily  prepared  the  best 
fare  her  stores  supplied,  —  milk,  figs,  and  peaches,  — 
deeply  regretting  that  the  bleak  winds  had  nipped  her 
almond-trees. 

Sir  Huon  thought  he  had  never  in  his  life  tasted  any 
fare  so  good.  The  old  lady  talked  while  her  guests 
ate.  She  doubted  not,  she  said,  they  had  come  to  be 
present  at  the  great  feast  in  honor  of  the  marriage  of 
the  Sultan's  daughter,  which  was  to  take  place  on  the 


236         LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

morrow.  They  asked  who  the  bridegroom  was  to  be, 
and  the  old  lady  answered,  "  The  Prince  of  Hyr- 
cania,"  but  added,  "  Our  princess  hates  him,  and 
would  rather  wed  a  dragon  than  him."  "How  know 
you  that  ? ' '  asked  Huon  ;  and  the  dame  informed 
him  that  she  had  it  from  the  princess  herself,  who  was 
her  foster-child.  Huon  inquired  the  reason  of  the 
princess's  aversion  ;  and  the  woman,  pleased  to  find 
her  chat  excite  so  much  interest,  replied  that  it  was  all 
in  consequence  of  a  dream.  ««  A  dream  !  "  exclaimed 
Huon.  ««  Yes  !  a  dream.  She  dreamed  that  she  was 
a  hind,  and  that  the  Prince,  as  a  hunter,  was  pursuing 
her,  and  had  almost  overtaken  her,  when  a  beautiful 
dwarf  appeared  in  view,  drawn  in  a  golden  car,  having 
by  his  side  a  young  man  of  yellow  hair  and  fair  com- 
plexion, like  one  from  a  foreign  land.  She  dreamed 
that  the  car  stopped  where  she  stood,  and  that,  having 
resumed  her  own  form,  she  was  about  to  ascend  it, 
when  suddenly  it  faded  from  her  view,  and  with  it  the 
dwarf  and  the  fair-haired  youth.  But  from  her  heart 
that  vision  did  not  fade,  and  from  that  time  her  affi- 
anced bridegroom,  the  Hyrcanian  prince,  had  become 
odious  to  her  sight.  Yet  the  Sultan,  her  father,  by  no 
means  regarding  such  a  cause  as  sufficient  to  prevent 
the  marriage,  had  named  the  morrow  as  the  time  when 
it  should  be  solemnized,  in  presence  of  his  court  and 
many  princes  of  the  neighboring  countries,  whom  the 
fame  of  the  princess's  beauty  and  the  bridegroom's 
splendor  had  brought  to  the  scene." 

We  may  suppose  this  conversation  woke  a  tumult  of 
thoughts  in  the  breast  of  Huon.  Was  it  not  clear  that 
Providence  led  him  on,  and  cleared  the  way  for  his 
happy  success  ?  Sleep  did  not  early  visit  the  eyes  of 
Huon  that  night  ;  but,  with  the  sanguine  temper  of 


HUON    OF   BORDEAUX.  237 

youth,  he  indulged  his  fancy  in  imagining  the  sequel 
of  his  strange  experience. 

The  next  day,  which  he  could  not  but  regard  as  the 
decisive  day  of  his  fate,  he  prepared  to  deliver  the 
message  of  Charlemagne.  Clad  in  his  armor,  fortified 
with  his  ivory  horn  and  his  ring,  he  reached  the  palace 
of  Gaudisso  when  the  guests  were  assembled  at  the 
banquet.  As  he  approached  the  gate  a  voice  called 
on  all  true  believers  to  enter  ;  and  Huon,  the  brave 
and  faithful  Huon,  in  his  impatience  passed  in  under 
that  false  pretension.  He  had  no  sooner  passed  the 
barrier  than  he  felt  ashamed  of  his  baseness,  and  was 
overwhelmed  with  regret.  To  make  amends  for  his 
fault  he  ran  forward  to  the  second  gate,  and  cried  to 
the  porter,  "  Dog  of  a  misbeliever,  I  command  you  in 
the  name  of  Him  who  died  on  the  cross,  open  to  me  !  " 
The  points  of  a  hundred  weapons  immediately  opposed 
his  passage.  Huon  then  remembered  for  the  first  time 
the  ring  he  had  received  from  his  uncle,  the  Governor. 
He  produced  it,  and  demanded  to  be  led  to  the  Sul- 
tan's presence.  The  officer  of  the  guard  recognized 
the  ring,  made  a  respectful  obeisance,  and  allowed  him 
free  entrance.  In  the  same  way  he  passed  the  other 
doors  to  the  rich  saloon  where  the  great  Sultan  was  at 
dinner  with  his  tributary  princes.  At  sight  of  the 
ring  the  chief  attendant  led  Huon  to  the  head  of  the 
hall,  and  introduced  him  to  the  Sultan  and  his  princes 
as  the  ambassador  of  Charlemagne.  A  seat  was  pro- 
vided for  him  near  the  royal  party. 

The  Prince  of  Hyrcania,  the  same  whom  Huon  had 
rescued  from  the  lion,  and  who  was  the  destined 
bridegroom  of  the  beautiful  Clarimunda,  sat  on  the 
Sultan's  right  hand,  and  the  princess  herself  on  his 
left.  It  chanced  that  Huon  found  himself  near  the 


238         LEGENDS   OF    CHARLEMAGNE. 

seat  of  the  princess,  and  hardly  were  the  ceremonies 
of  reception  over  before  he  made  haste  to  fulfil  the 
commands  of  Charlemagne  by  imprinting  a  kiss  upon 
her  rosy  lips,  and  after  that  a  second,  not  by  com- 
mand, but  by  good  will.  The  Prince  of  Hyrcania  cried 
out,  "  Audacious  infidel  !  take  the  reward  of  thy  in- 
solence ! ' '  and  aimed  a  blow  at  Huon,  which,  if  it 
had  reached  him,  would  have  brought  his  embassy  to 
a  speedy  termination.  But  the  ingrate  failed  of  his 
aim,  and  Huon  punished  his  blasphemy  and  ingratitude 
at  once  by  a  blow  which  severed  his  head  from  his 
body. 

So  suddenly  had  all  this  happened  that  no  hand  had 
been  raised  to  arrest  it  ;  but  now  Gaudisso  cried  out, 
"  Seize  the  murderer  !  "  Huon  was  hemmed  in  on  all 
sides,  but  his  redoubtable  sword  kept  the  crowd  of 
courtiers  at  bay.  But  he  saw  new  combatants  enter, 
and  could  not  hope  to  maintain  his  ground  against  so 
many.  He  recollected  his  horn,  and  raising  it  to  his 
lips,  blew  a  blast  almost  as  loud  as  that  of  Roland  at 
Roncesvalles.  It  was  in  vain.  Oberon  heard  it  ;  but 
the  sin  of  which  Huon  had  been  guilty  in  bearing, 
though  but  for  a  moment,  the  character  of  a  believer 
in  the  false  prophet,  had  put  it  out  of  Oberon's  power 
to  help  him.  Huon,  finding  himself  deserted,  and 
conscious  of  the  cause,  lost  his  strength  and  energy, 
was  seized,  loaded  with  chains,  and  plunged  into  a 
dungeon. 

His  life  was  spared  for  the  time,  merely  that  he 
might  be  reserved  for  a  more  painful  death.  The 
Sultan  meant  that,  after  being  made  to  feel  all  the 
torments  of  hunger  and  despair,  he  should  be  flayed 
alive. 

But  an  enchanter  more  ancient  and  more  powerful 


HUON    OF   BORDEAUX.  239 

than  Oberon  himself  interested  himself  for  the  brave 
Huon.  The  enchanter  was  Love.  The  Princess 
Clarimunda  learned  with  horror  the  fate  to  which  the 
young  prince  was  destined.  By  the  aid  of  her  gov- 
ernante  she  gained  over  the  keeper  of  the  prison,  and 
went  herself  to  lighten  the  chains  of  her  beloved.  It 
was  her  hand  that  removed  his  fetters,  from  her  he 
received  supplies  of  food  to  sustain  a  life  which  he  de- 
voted from  thenceforth  wholly  to  her.  After  the  most 
tender  explanations  the  princess  departed,  promising  to 
repeat  her  visit  on  the  morrow. 

The  next  day  she  came  according  to  promise,  and 
again  brought  supplies  of  food.  These  visits  were  con- 
tinued during  a  whole  month.  Huon  was  too  good 
a  son  of  the  Church  to  forget  that  the  amiable  prin- 
cess was  a  Saracen,  and  he  availed  himself  of  these 
interviews  to  instruct  her  in  the  true  faith.  How 
easy  it  is  to  believe  the  truth  when  uttered  by  the  lips 
of  those  we  love  !  Clarimunda  erelong  professed  her 
entire  belief  in  the  Christian  doctrines,  and  desired  to 
be  baptized. 

Meanwhile  the  Sultan  had  repeatedly  inquired  of 
the  jailer  how  his  prisoner  bore  the  pains  of  famine, 
and  learned  to  his  surprise  that  he  was  not  yet  much 
reduced  thereby.  On  his  repeating  the  inquiry,  after 
a  short  interval,  the  keeper  replied  that  the  prisoner 
had  died  suddenly,  and  had  been  buried  in  the  cavern. 
The  Sultan  could  only  regret  that  he  had  not  sooner 
ordered  the  execution  of  the  sentence. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  the  faithful  She- 
rasmin,  who  had  not  accompanied  Huon  in  his  last 
adventure,  but  had  learned  by  common  rumor  the  re- 
sult of  it,  came  to  the  court  in  hopes  of  doing  some- 
thing for  the  rescue  of  his  master.  He  presented  him- 


240         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

self  to  the  Sultan  as  Solario,  his  nephew.  Gaudisso 
received  him  with  kindness,  and  all  the  courtiers  loaded 
him  with  attentions.  He  soon  found  means  to  inform 
himself  how  the  Princess  regarded  the  brave  but  un- 
fortunate Huon,  and  having  made  himself  known  to 
her,  confidence  was  soon  established  between  them. 
Clarimunda  readily  consented  to  assist  in  the  escape  of 
Huon,  and  to  quit  with  him  her  father's  court  to  re- 
pair to  that  of  Charlemagne.  Their  united  efforts  had 
nearly  perfected  their  arrangement,  a  vessel  was  se- 
cretly prepared,  and  all  things  in  forwardness  for  the 
flight,  when  an  unlooked-for  obstacle  presented  itself. 
Huon  himself  positively  refused  to  go  leaving  the 
orders  of  Charlemagne  unexecuted. 

Sherasmin  was  in  despair.  Bitterly  he  complained 
of  the  fickleness  and  cruelty  of  Oberon  in  withdraw- 
ing his  aid  at  the  very  crisis  when  it  was  most  neces- 
sary. Earnestly  he  urged  every  argument  to  satisfy 
the  prince  that  he  had  done  enough  for  honor,  and 
could  not  be  held  bound  to  achieve  impossibilities. 
But  all  was  of  no  avail,  and  he  knew  not  which  way 
to  turn,  when  one  of  those  events  occurred  which  are 
so  frequent  under  Turkish  despotisms.  A  courier 
arrived  at  the  court  of  the  Sultan,  bearing  the  ring  of 
his  sovereign,  the  mighty  Agrapard,  Caliph  of  Ara- 
bia, and  bringing  the  bow-string  for  the  neck  of 
Gaudisso.  No  reason  was  assigned  ;  none  but  the 
pleasure  of  the  Caliph  is  ever  required  in  such  cases  ; 
but  it  was  suspected  that  the  bearer  of  the  bow-string 
had  persuaded  the  Caliph  that  Gaudisso,  whose  ra- 
pacity was  well  known,  had  accumulated  immense 
treasures,  which  he  had  not  duly  shared  with  his 
sovereign,  and  thus  had  obtained  an  order  to  super- 
sede him  in  his  Emir  ship. 


HUON   OF   BORDEAUX.  24! 

The  body  of  Gaudisso  would  have  been  cast  out  a 
prey  to  dogs  and  vultures,  had  not  Sherasmin,  under 
the  character  of  nephew  of  the  deceased,  been  permit- 
ted to  receive  it,  and  give  it  decent  burial,  which  he 
did,  but  not  till  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  beard 
and  grinders,  agreeably  to  the  orders  of  Charlemagne. 

No  obstacle  now  stood  in  the  way  of  the  lovers  and 
their  faithful  follower  in  returning  to  France.  They 
sailed,  taking  Rome  in  their  way,  where  the  Holy 
Father  himself  blessed  the  union  of  his  nephew,  Duke 
Huon  of  Bordeaux,  with  the  Princess  Clarimunda. 

Soon  afterward  they  arrived  in  France,  where  Huon 
laid  his  trophies  at  the  feet  of  Charlemagne,  and,  being 
restored  to  the  favor  of  the  Emperor,  hastened  to  pre- 
sent himself  and  his  bride  to  the  Duchess,  his  mother, 
and  to  the  faithful  liegemen  of  his  province  of  Guienne 
and  his  city  of  Bordeaux,  where  the  pair  were  received 
with  transports  of  joy. 


OGIER,    THE   DANE. 

OGIER,  the  Dane,  was  the  son  of  Geoffroy,  who 
wrested  Denmark  from  the  Pagans,  and  reigned  the 
first  Christian  king  of  that  country.  When  Ogier  was 
born,  and  before  he  was  baptized,  six  ladies  of  ravish- 
ing beauty  appeared  all  at  once  in  the  chamber  of  the 
infant.  They  encircled  him,  and  she  who  appeared 
the  eldest  took  him  in  her  arms,  kissed  him,  and  laid 
her  hand  upon  his  heart.  "I  give  you,"  said  she, 
"to  be  the  bravest  warrior  of  your  times."  She 
delivered  the  infant  to  her  sister,  who  said,  "  I  give 
you  abundant  opportunities  to  display  your  valor. ' ' 
"Sister,"  said  the  third  lady,  "you  have  given  him  a 


242         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

dangerous  boon  ;  I  give  him  that  he  shall  never  be 
vanquished."  The  fourth  sister  added,  as  she  laid  her 
hand  upon  his  eyes  and  his  mouth,  "  I  give  you  the  gift 
of  pleasing."  The  fifth  said,  "  Lest  all  these  gifts  serve 
only  to  betray,  I  give  you  sensibility  to  return  the  love 
you  inspire."  Then  spoke  Morgana,  the  youngest 
and  handsomest  of  the  group,  "  Charming  creature,  I 
claim  you  for  my  own  ;  and  I  give  you  not  to  die  till 
you  shall  have  come  to  pay  me  a  visit  in  my  isle  of 
Avalon. "  Then  she  kissed  the  child  and  departed  with 
her  sisters. 

After  this  the  king  had  the  child  carried  to  the  font 
and  baptized  with  the  name  of  Ogier. 

In  his  education  nothing  was  neglected  to  elevate 
him  to  the  standard  of  a  perfect  knight,  and  render 
him  accomplished  in  all  the  arts  necessary  to  make  him 
a  hero. 

He  had  hardly  reached  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
when  Charlemagne,  whose  power  was  established  over 
all  the  sovereigns  of  his  time,  recollected  that  Geoffrey, 
Ogier's  father,  had  omitted  to  render  the  homdge  due 
to  him  as  Emperor,  and  sovereign  lord  of  Denmark, 
one  of  the  grand  fiefs  of  the  empire.  He  accordingly 
sent  an  embassy  to  demand  of  the  king  of  Denmark 
this  homage,  and  on  receiving  a  refusal,  couched  in 
haughty  terms,  sent  an  army  to  enforce  the  demand. 
Geoffroy,  after  an  unsuccessful  resistance,  was  forced 
to  comply,  and  as  a  pledge  of  his  sincerity  delivered 
Ogier,  his  eldest  son,  a  hostage  to  Charles,  to  be 
brought  up  at  his  court.  He  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  Duke  Namo  of  Bavaria,  the  friend  of  his  father, 
who  treated  him  like  his  own  son. 

Ogier  grew  up  more  and  more  handsome  and  ami- 
able every  day.  He  surpassed  in  form,  strength,  and 


OGIER,   THE   DANE.  243 

address  all  the  noble  youths  his  companions  ;  he  failed 
not  to  be  present  at  all  tourneys  ;  he  was  attentive  to 
the  elder  knights,  and  burned  with  impatience  to 
imitate  them.  Yet  his  heart  rose  sometimes  in  secret 
against  his  condition  as  a  hostage,  and  as  one  apparently 
forgotten  by  his  father. 

The  King  of  Denmark,  in  fact,  was  at  this  time 
occupied  with  new  loves.  Ogier's  mother  having  died, 
he  had  married  a  second  wife,  and  had  a  son  named 
Guy  on.  The  new  queen  had  absolute  power  over 
her  husband,  and  fearing  that,  if  he  should  see  Ogier 
again,  he  would  give  him  the  preference  over  Guyon, 
she  had  adroitly  persuaded  him  to  delay  rendering  his 
homage  to  Charlemagne,  till  now  four  years  had  passed 
away  since  the  last  renewal  of  that  ceremony.  Charle- 
magne, irritated  at  this  delinquency,  drew  closer  the 
bonds  of  Ogier's  captivity  until  he  should  receive  a 
response  from  the  king  of  Denmark  to  afresh  summons 
which  he  caused  to  be  sent  to  him. 

The  answer  of  Geoffrey  was  insulting  and  defiant, 
and  the  rage  of  Charlemagne  was  roused  in  the  highest 
degree.  He  was  at  first  disposed  to  wreak  his  ven- 
geance upon  Ogier,  his  hostage  ;  but  at  the  entreaties  of 
Duke  Namo,  who  felt  towards  his  pupil  like  a  father, 
consented  to  spare  his  life,  if  Ogier  would  swear  fidel- 
ity to  him  as  his  liege-lord,  and  promise  not  to  quit  his 
court  without  his  permission.  Ogier  accepted  these 
terms,  and  was  allowed  to  retain  all  the  freedom  he 
had  before  enjoyed. 

The  Emperor  would  have  immediately  taken  arms 
to  reduce  his  disobedient  vassal,  if  he  had  not  been 
called  off  in  another  direction  by  a  message  from  Pope 
Leo,  imploring  his  assistance.  The  Saracens  had 
landed  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rome,  occupied  Mount 


244         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Janiculum,  and  prepared  to  pass  the  Tiber  and  carry 
fire  and  sword  to  the  capital  of  the  Christian  world. 
Charlemagne  hesitated  not  to  yield  to  the  entreaties  of 
the  Pope.  He  speedily  assembled  an  army,  crossed 
the  Alps,  traversed  Italy,  and  arrived  at  Spoleto,  a 
strong  place  to  which  the  Pope  had  retired.  Leo, 
at  the  head  of  his  Cardinals,  advanced  to  meet  him, 
and  rendered  him  homage,  as  to  the  son  of  Pepin, 
the  illustrious  protector  of  the  Holy  See,  coming,  as 
his  father  had  done,  to  defend  it  in  the  hour  of  need. 

Charlemagne  stopped  but  two  days  at  Spoleto,  and 
learning  that  the  Infidels,  having  rendered  themselves 
masters  of  Rome,  were  besieging  the  Capitol,  which 
could  not  long  hold  out  against  them,  marched  promptly 
to  attack  them. 

The  advanced  posts  of  the  army  were  commanded 
by  Duke  Namo,  on  whom  Ogier  waited  as  his  squire. 
He  did  not  yet  bear  arms,  not  having  received  the 
order  of  knighthood.  The  Oriflamme,  the  royal 
standard,  was  borne  by  a  knight  named  Alory,  who 
showed  himself  unworthy  of  the  honor. 

Duke  Namo,  seeing  a  strong  body  of  the  Infidels 
advancing  to  attack  him,  gave  the  word  to  charge  them. 
Ogier  remained  in  the  rear,  with  the  other  youths, 
grieving  much  that  he  was  not  permitted  to  fight. 
Very  soon  he  saw  Alory  lower  the  Oriflamme,  and 
turn  his  horse  in  flight.  Ogier  pointed  him  out  to  the 
young  men,  and  seizing  a  club,  rushed  upon  Alory 
and  struck  him  from  his  horse.  Then,  with  his  com- 
panions, he  disarmed  him,  clothed  himself  in  his  armor, 
raised  the  Oriflamme,  and  mounting  the  horse  of  the 
unworthy  knight,  flew  to  the  front  rank,  where  he 
joined  Duke  Namo,  drove  back  the  Infidels,  and  carried 
the  Oriflamme  quite  through  their  broken  ranks.  The 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  245 

Duke,  thinking  it  was  AJory,  whom  he  had  not  held 
in  high  esteem,  was  astonished  at  his  strength  and  valor. 
Ogier's  young  companions  imitated  him,  supplying 
themselves  with  armor  from  the  bodies  of  the  slain  ; 
they  followed  Ogier  and  carried  death  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Saracens,  who  fell  back  in  confusion  upon  their 
main  body. 

Duke  Namo  now  ordered  a  retreat,  and  Ogier 
obeyed  with  reluctance,  when  they  perceived  Charle- 
magne advancing  to  their  assistance.  The  combat  now 
became  general,  and  was  more  terrible  than  ever. 
Charlemagne  had  overthrown  Corsuble,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Saracens,  and  had  drawn  his  famous 
sword,  Joyeuse,  to  cut  off  his  head,  when  two  Saracen 
knights  set  upon  him  at  once,  one  of  whom  slew  his 
horse,  and  the  other  overthrew  the  Emperor  on  the 
sand.  Perceiving  by  the  eagle  on  his  casque  who  he 
was,  they  dismounted  in  haste  to  give  him  his  death- 
blow. Never  was  the  life  of  the  Emperor  in  such 
peril.  But  Ogier,  who  saw  him  fall,  flew  to  his 
rescue.  Though  embarrassed  with  the  Oriflamme,  he 
pushed  his  hor,se  against  one  of  the  Saracens  and  knocked 
him  down  ;  and  with  his  sword  dealt  the  other  so 
vigorous  a  blow  that  he  fell  stunned  to  the  earth. 
Then  helping  the  Emperor  to  rise,  he  remounted  him 
on  the  horse  of  one  of  the  fallen  knights.  tf  Brave  and 
generous  Alory  !  "  Charles  exclaimed,  "  I  owe  to  you 
my  honor  and  my  life  !  "  Ogier  made  no  answer  ; 
but,  leaving  Charlemagne  surrounded  by  a  great  many 
of  the  knights  who  had  flown  to  his  succor,  he  plunged 
into  the  thickest  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  carried  the 
Oriflamme,  followed  by  a  gallant  train  of  youthful  war- 
riors, till  the  standard  of  Mahomet  turned  in  retreat, 
and  the  Infidels  sought  safety  in  their  intrenchments. 


246         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Then  the  good  Archbishop  Turpiri  laid  aside  his 
helmet  and  his  bloody  sword  (for  he  always  felt  that 
he  was  clearly  in  the  line  of  his  duty  while  slaying 
Infidels),  took  his  mitre  and  his  crosier,  and  intoned 
Te  Deum. 

At  this  moment  Ogier,  covered  with  blood  and 
dust,  came  to  lay  the  Oriflamme  at  the  feet  of  the  Em- 
peror. He  was  followed  by  a  train  of  warriors  of 
short  stature,  who  walked  ill  at  ease  loaded  with  ar- 
mor too  heavy  for  them.  Ogier  knelt  at  the  feet  of 
Charlemagne,  who  embraced  him,  calling  him  Alory, 
while  Turpin  from  the  height  of  the  altar,  blessed  him 
with  all  his  might.  Then  young  Orlando,  son  of  the 
Count  Milone,  and  nephew  of  Charlemagne,  no  longer 
able  to  endure  this  misapprehension,  threw  down  his 
helmet,  and  ran  to  unlace  Ogier's,  while  the  other 
young  men  laid  aside  theirs.  Our  author  says  he  can- 
not express  the  surprise,  the  admiration,  and  the  ten- 
derness of  the  Emperor  and  his  peers.  Charles  folded 
Ogier  in  his  arms,  and  the  happy  fathers  of  those  brave 
youths  embraced  them  with  tears  of  joy.  The  good 
Duke  Namo  stepped  forward,  and  Charlemagne  yielded 
Ogier  to  his  embrace.  "  How  much  do  I  owe  you," 
he  said,  "good  and  wise  friend,  for  having  restrained 
my  anger  !  My  dear  Ogier  !  I  owe  you  my  life  ! 
My  sword  leaps  to  touch  your  shoulder,  yours  and 
those  of  your  brave  young  friends."  At  these  words 
he  drew  that  famous  sword,  Joyeuse,  and  while  Ogier 
and  the  rest  knelt  before  him,  gave  them  the  accolade 
conferring  on  them  the  order  of  knighthood.  The  young 
Orlando  and  his  cousin  Oliver  could  not  refrain,  even 
in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor,  from  falling  upon 
Ogier's  neck,  and  pledging  with  him  that  brotherhood 
in  arms,  so  dear  and  so  sacred  to  the  knights  of  old 


OGIER,    THE   DANE.  247 

times  ;  but  Chariot,  the  Emperor's  son,  at  the  sight 
of  the  glory  with  which  Ogier  had  covered  himself, 
conceived  the  blackest  jealousy  and  hate. 

The  rest  of  the  day  and  the  next  were  spent  in  the 
rejoicings  of  the  army.  Turpin  in  a  solemn  service 
implored  the  favor  of  Heaven  upon  the  youthful  knights, 
and  blessed  the  white  armor  which  was  prepared  for 
them.  Dake  Namo  presented  them  with  golden  spurs, 
Charles  himself  girded  on  their  swords.  But  what 
was  his  astonishment  when  he  examined  that  intended 
for  Ogier  !  The  loving  Fairy,  Morgana,  had  had  the 
art  to  change  it,  and  to  substitute  one  of  her  own  pro- 
curing, and  when  Charles  drew  it  out  of  the  scabbard, 
these  words  appeared  written  on  the  steel :  "My 
name  is  Cortana,  of  the  same  steel  and  temper  as  Joy- 
euse  and  Durindana."  Charles  saw  that  a  superior 
power  watched  over  the  destinies  of  Ogier  ;  he  vowed 
to  love  him  as  a  father  would,  and  Ogier  promised  him 
the  devotion  of  a  son.  Happy  had  it  been  for  both  if 
they  had  always  continued  mindful  of  their  promises. 

The  Saracen  army  had  hardly  recovered  from  its 
dismay  when  Carahue,  King  of  Mauritania,  who  was 
one  of  the  knights  overthrown  by  Ogier  at  the  time  of 
the  rescue  of  Charlemagne,  determined  to  challenge 
him  to  single  combat.  With  that  view  he  assumed 
the  dress  of  a  herald,  resolved  to  carry  his  own  mes- 
sage. The  French  knights  admired  his  air,  and  said 
to  one  another  that  he  seemed  more  fit  to  be  a  knight 
than  a  bearer  of  messages. 

Carahue  began  by  passing  the  warmest  eulogium 
upon  the  knight  who  bore  the  Oriflamme  on  the  day  of 
the  battle,  and  concluded  by  saying  that  Carahue,  King 
of  Mauritania,  respected  that  knight  so  much  that  he 
challenged  him  to  the  combat. 


248         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

Ogicr  had  risen  to  reply,  when  he  was  interrupted 
by  Chariot,  who  said  that  the  gage  of  the  King  of 
Mauritania  could  not  fitly  be  received  by  a  vassal,  liv- 
ing in  captivity  ;  by  which  he  meant  Ogier,  who  was  at 
that  time  serving  as  hostage  for  his  father.  Fire  flashed 
from  the  eyes  of  Ogier,  but  the  presence  of  the  Em- 
peror restrained  his  speech,  and  he  was  calmed  by  the 
kind  looks  of  Charlemagne,  who  said,  with  an  angry 
voice,  "  Silence,  Chariot  !  By  the  life  of  Bertha,  my 
queen,  he  who  has  saved  my  life  is  as  dear  to  me  as 
yourself.  Ogier,"  he  continued,  '«  you  are  no 
longer  a  hostage.  Herald  !  report  my  answer  to  your 
master,  that  never  does  knight  of  my  court  refuse  a 
challenge  on  equal  terms.  Ogier,  the  Dane,  accepts 
of  his,  and  I  myself  am  his  security ." 

Carahue,  profoundly  bowing,  replied,  "  My  lord,  I 
was  sure  that  the  sentiments  of  so  great  a  sovereign  as 
yourself  would  be  worthy  of  your  high  and  brilliant 
fame  ;  I  shall  report  your  answer  to  my  master,  who 
I  know  admires  you,  and  unwillingly  takes  arms  against 
you."  Then,  turning  to  Chariot,  whom  he  did  not 
know  as  the  son  of  the  Emperor,  he  continued,  "  As 
for  you,  Sir  Knight,  if  the  desire  of  battle  inflames  you, 
I  have  it  in  charge  from  Sadon,  cousin  of  the  King  of 
Mauritania,  to  give  the  like  defiance  to  any  French 
knights  who  will  grant  him  the  honor  of  the  combat." 

Chariot,  inflamed  with  rage  and  vexation  at  the 
public  reproof  which  he  had  just  received,  hesitated 
not  to  deliver  his  gage.  Carahue  received  it  with 
Ogier's,  and  it  was  agreed  that  the  combat  should  be 
on  the  next  day  in  a  meadow  environed  by  woods 
and  equally  distant  from  both  armies. 

The  perfidious  Chariot  meditated  the  blackest  trea- 
son. During  the  night  he  collected  some  knights  un- 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  249 

worthy  of  the  name,  and  like  himself  in  their  ferocious 
manners  ;  he  made  them  swear  to  avenge  his  injuries, 
armed  them  in  black  armor,  and  sent  them  to  lie  in 
ambush  in  the  wood,  with  orders  to  make  a  pre- 
tended attack  upon  the  whole  party,  but  in  fact,  to  lay 
heavy  hands  upon  Ogier  and  the  two  Saracens. 

At  the  dawn  of  day  Sadon  and  Carahue,  attended 
only  by  two  pages  to  carry  their  spears,  took  their  way 
to  the  appointed  meadow  ;  and  Chariot  and  Ogier  re- 
paired thither  also,  but  by  different  paths.  Ogier  ad- 
vanced with  a  calm  air,  saluted  courteously  the  two 
Saracen  knights,  and  joined  them  in  arranging  the 
terms  of  combat. 

While  this  was  going  on  the  perfidious  Chariot  re- 
mained behind  and  gave  his  men  the  signal  to  advance. 
That  cowardly  troop  issued  from  the  wood  and  en- 
compassed the  three  knights.  All  three  were  equally 
surprised  at  the  attack,  but  neither  of  them  suspected 
the  other  to  have  any  hand  in  the  treason.  Seeing  the 
attack  made  equally  upon  them  all,  they  united  their 
efforts  to  resist  it,  and  made  the  most  forward  of  the 
assailants  bite  the  dust.  Cortana  fell  on  no  one  with- 
out inflicting  a  mortal  wound,  but  the  sword  of  Cara- 
hue was  not  of  equal  temper  and  broke  in  his  hands. 
At  the  same  instant  his  horse  was  slain,  and  Carahue 
fell,  without  a  weapon,  and  entangled  with  his  prostrate 
horse.  Ogier,  who  saw  it,  ran  to  his  defence,  and 
leaping  to  the  ground  covered  the  prince  with  his  shield, 
supplied  him  with  the  sword  of  one  of  the  fallen 
ruffians,  and  would  have  him  mount  his  own  horse. 
At  that  moment  Chariot,  inflamed  with  rage,  pushed 
his  horse  upon  Ogier,  knocked  him  down,  and  would 
have  run  him  through  with  his  lance  if  Sadon,  who 
saw  the  treason,  had  not  sprung  upon  him  and  thrust 


250         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

him  back.  Carahue  leapt  lightly  upon  the  horse  which 
Ogier  presented  him,  and  had  time  only  to  exclaim, 
"Brave  Ogier,  I  am  no  longer  your  enemy,  I  pledge 
to  you  an  eternal  friendship,"  when  numerous  Saracen 
knights  were  seen  approaching,  having  discovered  the 
treachery,  and  Chariot  with  his  followers  took  refuge 
in  the  wood. 

The  troop  which  advanced  was  commanded  by 
Dannemont,  the  exiled  king  of  Denmark,  whom  Geof- 
froy,  Ogier's  father,  had  driven  from  his  throne  and 
compelled  to  take  refuge  with  the  Saracens.  Learning 
who  Ogier  was,  he  instantly  declared  him  his  prisoner, 
in  spite  of  the  urgent  remonstrances  and  even  threats 
of  Carahue  and  Sadon,  and  carried  him  under  a  strong 
guard  to  the  Saracen  camp.  Here  he  was  at  first  sub- 
jected to  the  most  rigorous  captivity,  but  Carahue  and 
Sadon  insisted  so  vehemently  on  his  release,  threaten- 
ing to  turn  their  arms  against  their  own  party  if  it  was 
not  granted,  while  Dannemont  as  eagerly  opposed  the 
measure,  that  Corsuble,  the  Saracen  commander,  con- 
sented to  a  middle  course,  and  allowed  Ogier  the 
freedom  of  his  camp,  upon  his  promise  not  to  leave  it 
without  permission. 

Carahue  was  not  satisfied  with  this  partial  conces- 
sion. He  left  the  city  next  morning,  proceeded  to 
the  camp  of  Charlemagne,  and  demanded  to  be  led  to 
the  Emperor.  When  he  reached  his  presence  he  dis- 
mounted from  his  horse,  took  off  his  helmet,  drew  his 
sword,  and  holding  it  by  the  blade  presented  it  to 
Charlemagne  as  he  knelt  before  him. 

"Illustrious  prince,"  he  said,  "behold  before  you 
the  herald  who  brought  the  challenge  to  your  knights 
from  the  King  of  Mauritania.  The  cowardly  old 
King  Dannemont  has  made  the  brave  Ogier  prisoner, 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  251 

and  has  prevailed  on  our  general  to  refuse  to  give  him 
up.  I  come  to  make  amends  for  this  ungenerous 
conduct  by  yielding  myself,  Carahue,  King  of  Mauri- 
tania, your  prisoner." 

Charlemagne,  with  all  his  peers,  admired  the  mag- 
nanimity of  Carahue  ;  he  raised  him,  embraced  him, 
and  restored  to  him  his  sword.  "  Prince,"  said  he, 
"  your  presence  and  the  bright  example  you  afford  my 
knights  consoles  me  for  the  loss  of  Ogier.  Would  to 
God  you  might  receive  our  holy  faith,  and  be  wholly 
united  with  us."  All  the  lords  of  the  court,  led  by 
Duke  Namo,  paid  their  respects  to  the  King  of  Mauri- 
tania. Chariot  only  failed  to  appear,  fearing  to  be 
recognized  as  a  traitor  ;  but  the  heart  of  Carahue  was 
too  noble  to  pierce  that  of  Charlemagne  by  telling  him 
the  treachery  of  his  son. 

Meanwhile  the  Saracen  army  was  rent  by  discord. 
The  troops  of  Carahue  clamored  against  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  because  their  king  was  left  in  captivity. 
They  even  threatened  to  desert  the  cause  and  turn 
their  arms  against  their  allies.  Charlemagne  pressed 
the  siege  vigorously,  till  at  length  the  Saracen  leaders 
found  themselves  compelled  to  abandon  the  city 
and  betake  themselves  to  their  ships.  A  truce  was 
made  ;  Ogier  was  exchanged  for  Carahue,  and  the 
two  friends  embraced  one  another  with  vows  of  per- 
petual brotherhood.  The  Pope  was  reestablished  in 
his  dominions,  and  Italy  being  tranquil,  Charlemagne 
returned  with  his  peers  and  their  followers  to  France. 


252         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

OGIER,    THE   DANE. 

(  Continued. ) 

CHARLEMAGNE  had  not  forgotten  the  offence  of 
Geoffrey,  the  King  of  Denmark,  in  withholding  hom- 
age, and  now  prepared  to  enforce  submission.  But  at 
this  crisis  he  was  waited  upon  by  an  embassy  from 
Geoffroy,  acknowledging  his  fault,  and  craving  assist- 
ance against  an  army  of  invaders  who  had  attacked  his 
states  with  a  force  which  he  was  unable  to  repel.  The 
soul  of  Charlemagne  was  too  great  to  be  implacable, 
and  he  took  this  opportunity  to  test  that  of  Ogier,  who 
had  felt  acutely  the  unkindness  of  his  father,  in  leaving 
him,  without  regard  or  notice,  fifteen  years  in  captivity. 
Charles  asked  Ogier  whether,  in  spite  of  his  father's 
neglect,  he  was  disposed  to  lead  an  army  to  his  assist- 
ance. He  replied,  "  A  son  can  never  be  excused  from 
helping  his  father  by  any  cause  short  of  death." 
Charlemagne  placed  an  army  of  a  thousand  knights 
under  the  command  of  Ogier,  and  great  numbers 
more  volunteered  to  march  under  so  distinguished  a 
leader.  He  flew  to  the  succor  of  his  father,  repelled 
the  invaders,  and  drove  them  in  confusion  to  their 
vessels.  Ogier  then  hastened  to  the  capital,  but  as  he 
drew  near  the  city  he  heard  all  the  bells  sounding  a 
knell.  He  soon  learned  the  cause  ;  it  was  the  obse- 
quies of  Geoffroy,  the  King.  Ogier  felt  keenly  the 
grief  of  not  having  been  permitted  to  embrace  his 
father  once  more,  and  to  learn  his  latest  commands  ; 
but  he  found  that  his  father  had  declared  him  heir  to 
his  throne.  He  hastened  to  the  church  where  the 
body  lay  ;  he  knelt  and  bathed  the  lifeless  form  with 
his  tears.  At  that  moment  a  celestial  light  beamed  all 


OGIER,   THE   DANE.  253 

around,  and  a  voice  of  an  angel  said,  "  Ogier,  leave 
thy  crown  to  Guyon,  thy  brother,  and  bear  no  other 
title  than  that  of  '  The  Dane. '  Thy  destiny  is  glo- 
rious, and  other  kingdoms  are  reserved  for  thee." 
Ogier  obeyed  the  divine  behest.  He  saluted  his  step- 
mother respectfully,  and  embracing  his  brother,  told 
him  that  he  was  content  with  his  lot  in  being  reckoned 
among  the  paladins  of  Charlemagne,  and  resigned  all 
claims  to  the  crown  of  Denmark. 

Ogier  returned  covered  with  glory  to  the  court  of 
Charlemagne,  and  the  Emperor,  touched  with  this 
proof  of  his  attachment,  loaded  him  with  caresses,  and 
treated  him  almost  as  an  equal. 

We  pass  in  silence  the  adventures  of  Ogier  for  sev- 
eral ensuing  years,  in  which  the  fairy-gifts  of  his 
infancy  showed  their  force  in  making  him  successful  in 
all  enterprises,  both  of  love  and  war.  He  married  the 
charming  Belicene,  and  became  the  father  of  young 
Baldwin,  a  youth  who  seemed  to  inherit  in  full  measure 
the  strength  and  courage  of  his  father  and  the  beauty 
of  his  mother.  When  the  lad  was  old  enough  to  be 
separated  from  his  mother,  Ogier  took  him  to  court  and 
presented  him  to  Charlemagne,  who  embraced  him  and 
took  him  into  his  service.  It  seemed  to  Duke  Namo, 
and  all  the  elder  knights,  as  if  they  saw  in  him  Ogier 
himself,  as  he  was  when  a  youth  ;  and  this  resem- 
blance won  for  the  lad  their  kind  regards.  Even 
Chariot  at  first  seemed  to  be  fond  of  him,  though  after 
a  while  the  resemblance  to  Ogier  which  he  noticed 
had  the  effect  to  excite  his  hatred. 

Baldwin  was  attentive  to  Chariot,  and  lost  no  occa- 
sion to  be  serviceable.  The  Prince  loved  to  play 
chess,  and  Baldwin,  who  played  well,  often  made  a 
party  with  him. 


254         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

One  day  Chariot  was  nettled  at  losing  two  pieces 
in  succession  ;  he  thought  he  could,  by  taking  a  piece 
from  Baldwin,  get  some  amends  for  his  loss  ;  but 
Baldwin,  seeing  him  fall  into  a  trap  which  he  had 
set  for  him,  could  not  help  a  slight  laugh,  as  he  said, 
"  Check-mate."  Chariot  rose  in  a  fury,  seized  the 
rich  and  heavy  chess-board,  and  dashed  it  with  all  his 
strength  on  the  head  of  Baldwin,  who  fell,  and  died 
where  he  fell. 

Frightened  at  his  own  crime,  and  fearing  the  ven- 
geance of  the  terrible  Ogier,  Chariot  concealed  himself 
in  the  interior  of  the  palace.  A  young  companion  of 
Baldwin  hastened  and  informed  Ogier  of  the  event. 
He  ran  to  the  chamber,  and  beheld  the  body  of  his 
child  bathed  in  blood,  and  it  could  not  be  concealed 
from  him  that  Chariot  gave  the  blow.  Transported 
with  rage,  Ogier  sought  Chariot  through  the  palace, 
and  Chariot,  feeling  safe  nowhere  else,  took  refuge  in 
the  hall  of  Charlemagne,  where  he  seated  himself  at 
table  with  Duke  Namo  and  Salomon,  Duke  of  Brittany. 
Ogier,  with  sword  drawn,  followed  him  to  the  very 
table  of  the  Emperor.  When  a  cupbearer  attempted 
to  bar  his  way  he  struck  the  cup  from  his  hand  and 
dashed  the  contents  in  the  Emperor's  face.  Charles 
rose  in  a  passion,  seized  a  knife,  and  would  have 
plunged  it  into  his  breast,  had  not  Salomon  and  another 
baron  thrown  themselves  between,  while  Namo,  who 
had  retained  his  ancient  influence  over  Ogier,  drew  him 
out  of  the  room.  Foreseeing  the  consequence  of  this 
violence,  pitying  Ogier,  and  in  his  heart  excusing  him, 
Namo  hurried  him  away  before  the  guards  of  the 
palace  could  arrest  him,  made  him  mount  his  horse,  and 
leave  Paris. 

Charlemagne  called   together  his  peers,  and  made 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  255 

them  take  an  oath  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  arrest 
Ogier,  and  bring  him  to  condign  punishment.  Ogier 
on  his  part  sent  messages  to  the  Emperor,  offering  to 
give  himself  up  on  condition  that  Chariot  should  be 
punished  for  his  atrocious  crime.  The  Emperor  would 
listen  to  no  conditions,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  Ogier 
at  the  head  of  a  large  body  of  soldiers.  Ogier,  on  the 
other  hand,  was  warmly  supported  by  many  knights, 
who  pledged  themselves  in  his  defence.  The  contest 
raged  long,  with  no  decisive  results.  Ogier  more 
than  once  had  the  Emperor  in  his  power,  but  declined 
to  avail  himself  of  his  advantage,  and  released  him 
without  conditions.  He  even  implored  pardon  for 
himself,  but  demanded  at  the  same  time  the  punishment 
of  Chariot.  But  Charlemagne  was  too  blindly  fond 
of  his  unworthy  son  to  subject  him  to  punishment  for 
the  sake  of  conciliating  one  who  had  been  so  deeply 
injured. 

At  length,  distressed  at  the  blood  which  his  friends 
had  lost  in  his  cause,  Ogier  dismissed  his  little  army, 
and  slipping  away  from  those  who  wished  to  attend 
him,  took  his  course  to  rejoin  the  Duke  Guy  on,  his 
brother.  On  his  way,  having  reached  the  forest  of 
Ardennes,  weary  with  long  travel,  the  freshness  of  a 
retired  valley  tempted  him  to  lie  down  to  take  some 
repose.  He  unsaddled  Beiffror,  relieved  himself  of  his 
helmet,  lay  down  on  the  turf,  rested  his  head  on  his 
shield,  and  slept. 

It  so  happened  that  Turpin,  who  occasionally  re- 
called to  mind  that  he  was  Archbishop  of  Rheims,  was 
at  that  time  in  the  vicinity,  making  a  pastoral  visit  to 
the  churches  under  his  jurisdiction.  But  his  dignity  of 
peer  of  France,  and  his  martial  spirit,  which  caused 
him  to  be  reckoned  among  the  "  preux  chevaliers  "  of 


256         LEGENDS    OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

his  time,  forbade  him  to  travel  without  as  large  a  reti- 
nue of  knights  as  he  had  of  clergymen.  One  of  these 
was  thirsty,  and  knowing  the  fountain  on  the  borders 
of  which  Ogier  was  reposing,  he  rode  to  it,  and  was 
struck  by  the  sight  of  a  knight  stretched  on  the  ground. 
He  hastened  back,  and  let  the  Archbishop  know,  who 
approached  the  fountain,  and  recognized  Ogier. 

The  first  impulse  of  the  good  and  generous  Turpin 
was  to  save  his  friend,  for  whom  he  felt  the  warmest 
attachment ;  but  his  archdeacons  and  knights,  who  also 
recognized  Ogier,  reminded  the  Archbishop  of  the 
oath  which  the  Emperor  had  exacted  of  them  all. 
Turpin  could  not  be  false  to  his  oath  ;  but  it  was  not 
without  a  groan  that  he  permitted  his  followers  to  bind 
the  sleeping  knight.  The  Archbishop's  attendants 
secured  the  horse  and  arms  of  Ogier,  and  conducted 
their  prisoner  to  the  Emperor  at  Soissons. 

The  Emperor  had  become  so  much  embittered  by 
Ogier' s  obstinate  resistance,  added  to  his  original  fault, 
that  he  was  disposed  to  order  him  to  instant  death. 
But  Turpin,  seconded  by  the  good  Dukes  Namo  and 
Salomon,  prayed  so  hard  for  him  that  Charlemagne 
consented  to  remit  a  violent  death,  but  sentenced  him 
to  close  imprisonment,  under  the  charge  of  the  Arch- 
bishop, strictly  limiting  his  food  to  one  quarter  of  a 
loaf  of  bread  per  day,  with  one  piece  of  meat,  and  a 
quarter  of  a  cup  of  wine.  In  this  way  he  hoped  to 
quickly  put  an  end  to  his  life  without  bringing  on  him- 
self the  hostility  of  the  King  of  Denmark,  and  other 
powerful  friends  of  Ogier.  He  exacted  a  new  oath  of 
Turpin  to  obey  his  orders  strictly. 

The  good  Archbishop  loved  Ogier  too  well  not  to 
cast  about  for  some  means  of  saving  his  life,  which  he 
foresaw  he  would  soon  lose  if  subjected  to  such  scanty 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  257 

fare,  for  Ogier  was  seven  feet  tall,  and  had  an  appetite 
in  proportion.  Turpin  remembered,  moreover,  that 
Ogier  was  a  true  son  of  the  Church,  always  zealous  to 
propagate  the  faith  and  subdue  unbelievers  ;  so  he  felt 
justified  in  practising  on  this  occasion  what  in  later  times 
has  been  entitled  "  mental  reservation, "  without  swerv- 
ing from  the  letter  of  the  oath  which  he  had  taken. 
This  is  the  method  he  hit  upon. 

Every  morning  he  had  his  prisoner  supplied  with  a 
quarter  of  a  loaf  of  bread,  made  of  two  bushels  of 
flour,  to  this  he  added  a  quarter  of  a  sheep  or  a  fat 
calf,  and  he  had  a  cup  made  which  held  forty  pints  of 
wine,  and  allowed  Ogier  a  quarter  of  it  daily. 

Ogier's  imprisonment  lasted  long  ;  Charlemagne  was 
astonished  to  hear,  from  time  to  time,  that  he  still  held 
out ;  and  when  he  inquired  more  particularly  of  Tur- 
pin, the  good  Archbishop,  relying  on  his  own  under- 
standing of  the  words,  did  not  hesitate  to  affirm 
positively  that  he  allowed  his  risoner  no  more  than 
the  permitted  ration. 

We  forgot  to  say  that,  when  Ogier  was  led  pris- 
oner to  Soissons,  the  Abbot  of  Saint  Faron,  observing 
the  fine  horse  BeifFror,  and  not  having  at  the  time  any 
other  favor  to  ask  of  Charlemagne,  begged  the  Em- 
peror to  give  him  the  horse,  and  had  him  taken  to  his 
abbey.  He  was  impatient  to  try  his  new  acquisition, 
and  when  he  had  arrived  in  his  litter  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  where  the  horse  had  been  brought  to  meet 
him  mounted  him  and  rode  onward.  The  horse,  ac- 
customed to  bear  the  enormous  weight  of  Ogier  in  his 
armor,  when  he  perceived  nothing  on  his  back  but  the 
light  weight  of  the  Abbot,  whose  long  robes  fluttered 
against  his  sides,  ran  away,  making  prodigious  leaps 
over  the  steep  acclivities  of  the  mountain  till  he  reached 


258         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

the  convent  of  Jouaire,  where,  in  sight  of  the  Abbess 
and  her  nuns,  he  threw  the  Abbot,  already  half  dead 
with  fright,  to  the  ground.  The  Abbot,  bruised  and 
mortified,  revenged  himself  on  poor  Beiffror,  whom  he 
condemned,  in  his  wrath,  to  be  given  to  the  workmen 
to  drag  stones  for  a  chapel  that  he  was  building  near 
the  abbey.  Thus,  ill-fed,  hard-worked,  and  often 
beaten,  the  noble  horse  Beiffror  passed  the  time  while 
his  master's  imprisonment  lasted. 

That  imprisonment  would  have  been  as  long  as  his 
life  if  it  had  not  been  for  some  important  events  which 
forced  the  Emperor  to  set  Ogier  at  liberty. 

The  Emperor  learned  at  the  same  time  that  Cara- 
hue,  King  of  Mauritania,  was  assembling  an  army  to 
come  and  demand  the  liberation  of  Ogier ;  that 
Guyon,  King  of  Denmark,  was  prepared  to  second 
the  enterprise  with  all  his  forces  ;  and,  worse  than  all, 
that  the  Saracens,  under  Bruhier,  Sultan  of  Arabia, 
had  landed  in  Gascony,  taken  Bordeaux,  and  were 
marching  with  all  speed  for  Paris. 

Charlemagne  now  felt  how  necessary  the  aid  of 
Ogier  was  to  him.  But,  in  spite  of  the  representations 
of  Tufpin,  Namo,  and  Salomon,  he  could  not  bring 
himself  to  consent  to  surrender  Chariot  to  such  punish- 
ment as  Ogier  should  see  fit  to  impose.  Besides,  he 
believed  that  Ogier  was  without  strength  and  vigor, 
weakened  by  imprisonment  and  long  abstinence. 

At  this  crisis  he  received  a  message  from  Bruhier, 
proposing  to  put  the  issue  upon  the  result  of  a  combat 
between  himself  and  the  Emperor  or  his  champion  ; 
promising,  if  defeated,  to  withdraw  his  army.  Charle- 
magne would  willingly  have  accepted  the  challenge, 
but  his  counsellors  all  opposed  it.  The  herald  was 
therefore  told  that  the  Emperor  would  take  time  to 


OGIER,    THE   DANE.  259 

consider  his  proposition,  and  give  his  answer  the  next 
day. 

It  was  during  this  interval  that  the  three  Dukes 
succeeded  in  prevailing  upon  Charlemagne  to  pardon 
Ogier,  and  to  send  for  him  to  combat  the  puissant 
enemy  who  now  defied  him  ;  but  it  was  no  easy  task 
to  persuade  Ogier.  The  idea  of  his  long  imprison- 
ment and  the  recollection  of  his  son,  bleeding  and 
dying  in  his  arms  by  the  blow  of  the  ferocious  Chariot, 
made  him  long  resist  the  urgency  of  his  friends. 
Though  glory  called  him  to  encounter  Bruhier,  and 
the  safety  of  Christendom  demanded  the  destruction 
of  this  proud  enemy  of  the  faith,  Ogier  only  yielded 
at  last  on  condition  that  Chariot  should  be  delivered 
into  his  hands  to  be  dealt  with  as  he  should  see  fit. 

The  terms  were  hard,  but  the  danger  was  pressing, 
and  Charlemagne,  with  a  returning  sense  of  justice, 
and  a  strong  confidence  in  the  generous  though  passion- 
ate soul  of  Ogier,  at  last  consented  to  them. 

Ogier  was  led  into  the  presence  of  Charlemagne 
by  the  three  peers.  The  Emperor,  faithful  to  his 
word,  had  caused  Chariot  to  be  brought  into  the  hall 
where  the  high  barons  were  assembled,  his  hands  tied, 
and  his  head  uncovered.  When  the  Emperor  saw 
Ogier  approach  he  took  Chariot  by  the  arm,  led  him 
towards  Ogier,  and  said  these  words:  "I  surrender 
the  criminal  ;  do  with  him  as  you  think  fit."  Ogier, 
without  replying,  seized  Chariot  by  the  hair,  forced 
him  on  his  knees,  and  lifted  with  the  other  hand  his 
irresistible  sword.  Charlemagne,  who  expected  to 
see  the  head  of  his  son  rolling  at  his  feet,  shut  his  eyes 
and  uttered  a  cry  of  horror. 

Ogier  had  done  enough.  The  next  moment  he 
raised  Chariot,  cut  his  bonds,  kissed  him  on  the 


260         LEO-ENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

mouth,  and   hastened  to  throw  himself  at  the  feet  of 
the  Emperor. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  surprise  and  joy  of  Charle- 
magne at  seeing  his  son  unharmed  and  Ogier  kneeling 
at  his  feet.  He  folded  him  in  his  arms,  bathed  him 
with  tears,  and  exclaimed  to  his  barons,  "  I  feel  at 
this  moment  that  Ogier  is  greater  than  I."  As  for 
Chariot,  his  base  soul  felt  nothing  but  the  joy  of  having 
escaped  death  ;  he  remained  such  as  he  had  been,  and 
it  was  not  till  some  years  afterwards  he  received  the 
punishment  he-  deserved,  from  the  hands  of  Huon  of 
Bordeaux,  as  we  have  seen  in  a  former  chapter. 


OGIER,    THE   DANE. 

(  Continued. ) 

WHEN  Charlemagne  had  somewhat  recovered  his 
composure  he  was  surprised  to  observe  that  Ogier 
appeared  in  good  case,  and  had  a  healthy  color  in  his 
cheeks.  He  turned  to  the  Archbishop,  who  could 
not  help  blushing  as  he  met  his  eye.  "  By  the  head 
of  Bertha,  my  queen,"  said  Charlemagne,  "Ogier 
has  had  good  quarters  in  your  castle,  my  Lord  Arch- 
bishop ;  but  so  much  the  more  am  I  indebted  to  you." 
All  the  barons  laughed  and  jested  with  Turpin,  who 
only  said,  "  Laugh  as  much  as  you  please,  my  lords  ; 
but  for  my  part  I  am  not  sorry  to  see  the  arm  in  full 
vigor  that  is  to  avenge  us  on  the  proud  Saracen." 

Charlemagne  immediately  despatched  his  herald,  ac- 
cepting the  challenge,  and  appointing  the  next  day  but 
one  for  the  encounter.  The  proud  and  crafty  Bruhier 


OGIER,   THE   DANE.  261 

Jaughed  scornfully  when  he  heard  the  reply  accepting 
his  challenge,  for  he  had  a  reliance  on  certain  resources 
besides  his  natural  strength  and  skill.  However,  he 
swore  by  Mahomet  to  observe  the  conditions  as  pro- 
posed and  agreed  upon. 

Ogier  now  demanded  his  armor,  and  it  was  brought 
to  him  in  excellent  condition,  for  the  good  Turpin  had 
kept  it  faithfully  ;  but  it  was  not  easy  to  provide  a 
horse  for  the  occasion.  Charlemagne  had  the  best 
horses  of  his  stables  brought  out,  except  Blanchard,  his 
own  charger  ;  but  all  in  vain,  the  weight  of  Ogier 
bent  their  backs  to  the  ground.  In  this  embarrass- 
ment the  Archbishop  remembered  that  the  Emperor 
had  given  Beiffror  to  the  Abbot  of  St.  Faron,  and  sent 
off  a  courier  in  haste  to  re-demand  him. 

Monks  are  hard  masters,  and  the  one  who  directed 
the  laborers  at  the  abbey  had  but  too  faithfully  obeyed 
the  orders  of  the  Abbot.  Poor  Beiffror  was  brought 
back,  lean,  spiritless,  and  chafed  with  the  harness  of 
the  vile  cart  that  he  had  had  to  draw  so  long.  He  carried 
his  head  down,  and  trod  heavily  before  Charlemagne  ; 
but  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  Ogier  he  raised  his 
head,  he  neighed,  his  eyes  flashed,  his  former  ardor 
showed  itself  by  the  force  with  which  he  pawed  the 
ground.  Ogier  caressed  him,  and  the  good  steed 
seemed  to  return  his  caresses  ;  Ogier  mounted  him, 
and  Beiffror,  proud  of  carrying  his  master  again,  leapt 
and  curvetted  with  all  his  youthful  vigor. 

Nothing  being  now  wanted,  Charlemagne,  at  the 
head  of  his  army,  marched  forth  from  the  city  of  Paris, 
and  occupied  the  hill  of  Montmartre,  whence  the 
view  extended  over  the  plain  of  St.  Denis,  where  the 
battle  was  to  be  fought. 

When  the  appointed  day  came  the    Dukes  Namo 


.262         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  Salomon,  as  seconds  of  Ogier,  accompanied  him 
to  the  place  marked  out  for  the  lists,  and  Bruhier, 
with  two  distinguished  Emirs,  presented  himself  on  the 
other  side. 

Bruhier  was  in  high  spirits,  and  jested  with  his 
friends,  as  he  advanced,  upon  the  appearance  of  Beif- 
fror.  "  Is  that  the  horse  they  presume  to  match  with 
Marchevattee,  the  best  steed  that  ever  fed  in  the  vales 
of  Mount  Atlas  ?  "  But  now  the  combatants,  having 
met  and  saluted  each  other,  ride  apart  to  come  to- 
gether in  fall  career.  Beiffror  flew  over  the  plain,  and 
met  the  adversary  more  than  half-way.  The  lances 
of  the  two  combatants  were  shivered  at  the  shock,  and 
Bruhier  was  astonished  to  see  almost  at  the  same 
instant  the  sword  of  Ogier  gleaming  above  his  head. 
He  parried  it  with  his  buckler,  and  gave  Ogier  a  blow 
on  his  helmet,  who  returned  it  with  another,  better 
aimed  or  better  seconded  by  the  temper  of  his  blade, 
for  it  cut  away  part  of  Bruhier' s  helmet,  and  with  it 
his  ear  and  part  of  his  cheek.  Ogier,  seeing  the 
blood,  did  not  immediately  repeat  his  blow,  and  Bru- 
hier seized  the  moment  to  gallop  off  at  one  side.  As 
he  rode  he  took  a  vase  of  gold  which  hung  at  his 
saddle-bow,  and  bathed  with  its  contents  the  wounded 
part.  The  blood  instantly  ceased  to  flow,  the  ear  and 
the  flesh  were  restored  quite  whole,  and  the  Dane 
was  astonished  to  see  his  antagonist  return  to  the 
ground  as  sound  as  ever. 

Bruhier  laughed  at  his  amazement.  "  Know," 
said  he,  "  that  I  possess  the  precious  balm  that  Joseph 
of  Arimathea  used  upon  the  body  of  the  crucified  one, 
whom  you  worship.  If  I  should  lose  an  arm  I  could 
restore  it  with  a  few  drops  of  this.  It  is  useless  for 
you  to  contend  with  me.  Yield  yourself,  and,  as  you 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  263 

appear  to  be  a  strong  fellow,  I  will  make  you  first 
oarsman  in  one  of  my  galleys." 

Ogier,  though  boiling  with  rage,  forgot  not  to  im- 
plore the  assistance  of  Heaven.  "  O  Lord  !  "  he  ex- 
claimed, "  suffer  not  the  enemy  of  thy  name  to  profit 
by  the  powerful  help  of  that  which  owes  all  its  virtue 
to  thy  divine  blood."  At  these  words  he  attacked 
Bruhier  again  with  more  vigor  than  ever  ;  both  struck 
terrible  blows,  and  made  grievous  wounds  ;  but  the 
blood  flowed  from  those  of  Ogier,  while  Bruhier 
stanched  his  by  the  application  of  his  balm.  Ogier, 
desperate  at  the  unequal  contest,  grasped  Cortana  with 
both  hands,  and  struck  his  enemy  such  a  blow  that  it 
cleft  his  buckler,  and  cut  off  his  arm  with  it ;  but 
Bruhier  at  the  same  time  launched  one  at  Ogier, 
which,  missing  him,  struck  the  head  of  Beiffror,  and 
the  good  horse  fell,  and  drew  down  his  master  in  his 
fall. 

Bruhier  had  time  to  leap  to  the  ground,  to  pick  up 
his  arm  and  apply  his  balsam  ;  then,  before  Ogier 
had  recovered  his  footing,  he  rushed  forward  with 
sword  uplifted  to  complete  his  destruction. 

Charlemagne,  from  the  height  of  Montmartre,  see- 
ing the  brave  Ogier  in  this  situation,  groaned,  and  was 
ready  to  murmur  against  Providence  ;  but  the  good 
Turpin,  raising  his  arms,  with  a  faith  like  that  of 
Moses,  drew  down  upon  the  Christian  warrior  the 
favor  of  Heaven. 

Ogier,  promptly  disengaging  himself,  pressed  Bruhier 
with  so  much  impetuosity  that  he  drove  him  to  a 
distance  from  his  horse,  to  whose  saddle-bow  the 
precious  balm  was  suspended  ;  and  very  soon  Charle- 
magne saw  Ogier,  now  completely  in  the  advantage, 
bring  his  enemy  to  his  knees,  tear  off  his  helmet,  and, 


£64        LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

with  a  sweep  of  his  sword,  strike  his  head  from  his 
body. 

After  the  victory,  Ogier  seized  Marchevallee,  leaped 
upon  his  back,  and  became  possessed  of  the  precious 
flask,  a  few  drops  from  which  closed  his  wounds  and 
restored  his  strength.  The  French  knights  who  had 
been  Bruhier's  captivesj  now  released,  pressed  round 
Ogier  to  thank  him  for  their  deliverance. 

Charlemagne  and  his  nobles,  as  soon  as  their  atten- 
tion was  relieved  from  the  single  combat,  perceived 
from  their  elevated  position  an  unusual  agitation  in  the 
enemy's  camp.  They  attributed  it  at  first  to  the  death 
of  their  general,  but  soon  the  noise  of  arms,  the  cries 
of  combatants,  and  new  standards  which  advanced,  dis- 
closed to  them  the  fact  that  Bruhier's  army  was 
attacked  by  a  new  enemy. 

The  Emperor  was  right ;  it  was  the  brave  Carahue 
of  Mauritania,  who,  with  an  army,  had  arrived  in 
France,  resolved  to  attempt  the  liberation  of  Ogier,  his 
brother  in  arms.  Learning  on  his  arrival  the  changed 
aspect  of  affairs,  he  hesitated  not  to  render  a  signal  ser- 
vice to  the  Emperor,  by  attacking  the  army  of  Bruhier 
in  the  midst  of  the  consternation  occasioned  by  the 
loss  of  its  commander. 

Ogier  recognized  the  standard  of  his  friend,  and 
leaping  upon  Marchevallee,  flew  to  aid  his  attack. 
Charlemagne  followed  with  his  army  ;  and  the  Saracen 
host,  after  an  obstinate  conflict,  was  forced  to  surrender 
unconditionally. 

The  interview  of  Ogier  and  Carahue  was  such  as 
might  be  anticipated  of  two  such  attached  friends  and 
accomplished  knights.  Charlemagne  went  to  meet 
them,  embraced  them,  and  putting  the  King  of  Mauri- 
tania on  his  right  and  Ogier  on  his  left,  returned  with 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  265 

triumph  to  Paris.  There  the  Empress  Bertha  and  the 
ladies  of  her  court  crowned  them  with  laurels,  and  the 
sage  and  gallant  Eginhard,  chamberlain  and  secretary 
of  the  Emperor,  wrote  all  these  great  events  in  his 
history. 

A  few  days  after  Guyon,  King  of  Denmark,  arrived 
in  France  with  a  chosen  band  of  knights,  and  sent  an 
ambassador  to  Charlemagne,  to  say  that  he  came,  not 
as  an  enemy,  but  to  render  homage  to  him  as  the  best 
knight  of  the  time  and  the  head  of  the  Christian  world. 
Charlemagne  gave  the  ambassador  a  cordial  reception, 
and  mounting  his  horse,  rode  forward  to  meet  the 
King  of  Denmark. 

These  great  princes,  being  assembled  at  the  court 
of  Charles,  held  council  together,  and  the  ancient  and 
sage  barons  were  called  to  join  it. 

It  was  decided  that  the  united  Danish  and  Mauri- 
tan  ian  armies  should  cross  the  sea  and  carry  the  war  to 
the  country  of  the  Saracens,  and  that  a  thousand 
French  knights  should  range  themselves  under  the  ban- 
ner of  Ogier,  the  Dane,  who,  though  not  a  king, 
should  have  equal  rank  with  the  two  others. 

We  have  not  space  to  record  all  the  illustrious 
actions  performed  by  Ogier  and  his  allies  in  this  war. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  they  subdued  the  Saracens  of  Ptole- 
mais  and  Judaea,  and,  erecting  those  regions  into  a 
kingdom,  placed  the  crown  upon  the  head  of  Ogier. 
Guyon  and  Carahue  then  left  him,  to  return  to  their 
respective  dominions.  Ogier  adopted  Walter,  the  son 
of  Guyon  of  Denmark,  to  be  his  successor  in  his 
kingdom.  He  superintended  his  education,  and  saw 
the  young  prince  grow  up  worthy  of  his  cares.  But 
Ogier,  in  spite  of  all  the  honors  of  his  rank,  often 
regretted  the  court  of  Charlemagne,  the  Duke  Namo, 


266         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

and  Salomon  of  Brittany,  for  whom  he  had  the  re- 
spect and  attachment  of  a  son.  At  last,  finding 
Walter  old  enough  to  sustain  the  weight  of  govern- 
ment, Ogier  caused  a  vessel  to  be  prepared  secretly, 
and,  attended  only  by  one  squire,  left  his  palace  by 
night,  and  embarked  to  return  to  France. 

The  vessel,  driven  by  a  fair  wind,  cut  the  sea  with 
the  swiftness  of  a  bird  ;  but  on  a  sudden  it  deviated 
from  its  course,  no  longer  obeyed  the  helm,  and  sped 
fast  towards  a  black  promontory  which  stretched  into 
the  sea.  This  was  a  mountain  of  loadstone,  and,  its 
attractive  power  increasing  as  the  distance  diminished, 
the  vessel  at  last  flew  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow 
towards  it,  and  was  dashed  to  pieces  on  its  rocky  base. 
Ogier  alone  saved  himself,  and  reached  the  shore  on  a 
fragment  of  the  wreck. 

Ogier  advanced  into  the  country,  looking  for  some 
marks  of  inhabitancy,  but  found  none.  On  a  sudden 
he  encountered  two  monstrous  animals,  covered  with 
glittering  scales,  accompanied  by  a  horse  breathing 
fire.  Ogier  drew  his  sword  and  prepared  to  defend 
himself;  but  the  monsters,  terrific  as  they  appeared, 
made  no  attempt  to  assail  him,  and  the  horse,  Papillon, 
knelt  down,  and  appeared  to  court  Ogier  to  mount 
upon  his  back.  Ogier  hesitated  not  to  see  the  advent- 
ure through  ;  he  mounted  Papillon,  who  ran  with 
speed,  and  soon  cleared  the  rocks  and  precipices  which 
hemmed  in  and  concealed  a  beautiful  landscape.  He 
continued  his  course  till  he  reached  a  magnificent  pal- 
ace, and,  without  allowing  Ogier  time  to  admire  it, 
crossed  a  grand  court-yard  adorned  with  colonnades, 
and  entered  a  garden,  where,  making  his  way  through 
alleys  of  myrtle,  he  checked  his  course,  and  knelt 
down  on  the  enamelled  turf  of  a  fountain. 


OGIER,   THE    DANE.  267 

Ogier  dismounted  and  took  some  steps  along  the 
margin  of  the  stream,  but  was  soon  stopped  by  meet- 
ing a  young  beauty,  such  as  they  paint  the  Graces, 
and  almost  as  lightly  attired  as  they.  At  the  same 
moment,  to  his  amazement,  his  armor  fell  off  of  its 
own  accord.  The  young  beauty  advanced  with  a 
tender  air,  and  placed  upon  his  head  a  crown  of 
flowers.  At  that  instant  the  Danish  hero  lost  his 
memory  ;  his  combats,  his  glory,  Charlemagne  and  his 
court,  all  vanished  from  his  mind  ;  he  saw  only  Mor- 
gana, he  desired  nothing  but  to  sigh  forever  at  her  feet. 

We  abridge  the  narrative  of  all  the  delights  which 
Ogier  enjoyed  for  more  than  a  hundred  years.  Time 
flew  by,  leaving  no  impression  of  its  flight.  Morgana's 
youthful  charms  did  not  decay,  and  Ogier  had  none 
of  those  warnings  of  increasing  years  which  less  favored 
mortals  never  fail  to  receive.  There  is  no  knowing 
how  long  this  blissful  state  might  have  lasted,  if  it  had 
not  been  for  an  accident,  by  which  Morgana  one  day, 
in  a  sportive  moment,  snatched  the  crown  from  his 
head.  That  moment  Ogier  regained  his  memory, 
and  lost  his  contentment.  The  recollection  of  Charle- 
magne, and  of  his  own  relatives  and  friends,  saddened 
the  hours  which  he  passed  with  Morgana.  The  fairy 
saw  with  grief  the  changed  looks  of  her  lover.  At 
last  she  drew  from  him  the  acknowledgment  that  he 
wished  to  go,  at  least  for  a  time,  to  revisit  Charles's 
court.  She  consented  with  reluctance,  and  with  her 
own  hands  helped  to  reinvest  him  with  his  armor. 
Papillon  was  led  forth,  Ogier  mounted  him,  and, 
taking  a  tender  adieu  of  the  tearful  Morgana,  crossed 
at  rapid  speed  the  rocky  belt  which  separated  Mor- 
gana's palace  from  the  borders  of  the  sea. 

The  sea-goblins  which  had  received  him  at  his  com- 


Z68         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

ing  awaited  him  on  the  shore.  One  of  them  took 
Ogier  on  his  back,  and  the  other  placing  himself  under 
Papillon,  they  spread  their  broad  fins,  and  in  a  short 
time  traversed  the  wide  space  that  separates  the  isle  of 
Avalon  from  France.  They  landed  Ogier  on  the 
coast  of  Languedoc,  and  then  plunged  into  the  sea  and 
disappeared. 

Ogier  remounted  on  Papillon,  who  carried  him 
across  the  kingdom  almost  as  fast  as  he  had  passed  the 
sea.  He  arrived  under  the  walls  of  Paris,  which  he 
would  scarcely  have  recognized  if  the  high  towers  of  St. 
Genevieve  had  not  caught  his  eye.  He  went  straight 
to  the  palace  of  Charlemagne,  which  seemed  to  him 
to  have  been  entirely  rebuilt.  His  surprise  was  ex- 
treme, and  increased  still  more  on  finding  that  he 
understood  with  difficulty  the  language  of  the  guards 
and  attendants  in  replying  to  his  questions  ;  and  seeing 
them  smile  as  they  tried  to  explain  to  one  another  the 
language  in  which  he  addressed  them.  Presently  the 
attention  of  some  of  the  barons  who  were  going  to 
court  was  attracted  to  the  scene,  and  Ogier,  who  rec- 
ognized the  badges  of  their  rank,  addressed  them,  and 
inquired  if  the  Dukes  Namo  and  Salomon  were  still 
residing  at  the  Emperor's  court.  At  this  question  the 
barons  looked  at  one  another  in  amazement  ;  and  one 
of  the  eldest  said  to  the  rest,  "  How  much  this  knight 
resembles  the  portrait  of  my  grand-uncle,  Ogier  the 
Dane."  "Ah!  my  dear  nephew,  I  am  Ogier  the 
Dane,"  said  he  ;  and  he  remembered  that  Morgana 
had  told  him  that  he  was  little  aware  of  the  flight  of 
time  during  his  abode  with  her. 

The  barons,  more  astonished  than  ever,  concluded 
to  conduct  him  to  the  monarch  who  then  reigned,  the 
great  Hugh  Capet. 


OGIER,   THE   DANE.  269 

The  brave  Ogier  entered  the  palace  without  hesita- 
tion ;  but  when,  on  reaching  the  royal  hall,  the  barons 
directed  him  to  make  his  obeisance  to  the  King  of 
France,  he  was  astonished  to  see  a  man  of  short  stature 
and  large  head,  whose  air,  nevertheless,  was  noble  and 
martial,  seated  upon  the  throne  on  which  he  had  so 
often  seen  Charlemagne,  the  tallest  and  handsomest 
sovereign  of  his  time. 

Ogier  recounted  his  adventures  with  simplicity  and 
unaffectedness.  Hugh  Capet  was  slow  to  believe  him  ; 
but  Ogier  recalled  so  many  proofs  and  circumstances, 
that  at  last  he  was  forced  to  recognize  the  aged  war- 
rior to  be  the  famous  Ogier  the  Dane. 

The  king  informed  Ogier  of  the  events  which  had 
taken  place  during  his  long  absence  ;  that  the  line  of 
Charlemagne  was  extinct ;  that  a  new  dynasty  had 
commenced  ;  that  the  old  enemies  of  the  kingdom,  the 
Saracens,  were  still  troublesome  ;  and  that  at  that  very 
time  an  army  of  those  miscreants  was  besieging  the  city 
of  Chartres,  to  which  he  was  about  to  repair  in  a  few 
days  to  its  relief.  Ogier,  always  inflamed  with  the 
love  of  glory,  offered  the  service  of  his  arm,  which  the 
illustrious  monarch  accepted  graciously,  and  conducted 
him  to  the  queen.  The  astonishment  of  Ogier  was 
redoubled  when  he  saw  the  new  ornaments  and  head- 
dresses of  the  ladies  ;  still,  the  beautiful  hair  which 
they  built  up  on  their  foreheads,  and  the  feathers  inter- 
woven, which  waved  with  so  much  grace,  gave  them 
a  noble  air  that  delighted  him.  His  admiration  in- 
creased when,  instead  of  the  old  Empress  Bertha,  he 
saw  a  young  queen  who  combined  a  majestic  mien  with 
the  graces  of  her  time  of  life,  and  manners  candid  and 
charming,  suited  to  attach  all  hearts.  Ogier  saluted 
the  youthful  queen  with  a  respect  so  profound  that 


27°         LEGENDS   OF   CHARLEMAGNE. 

many  of  the  courtiers  took  him  for  a  foreigner,  or  at 
least  for  some  nobleman  brought  up  at  a  distance  from 
Paris,  who  retained  the  manners  of  what  they  called 
the  old  court. 

When  the  queen  was  informed  by  her  husband  that 
it  was  the  celebrated  Ogier  the  Dane  whom  he  pre- 
sented to  her,  whose  memorable  exploits  she  had  often 
read  in  the  chronicles  of  antiquity,  her  surprise  was 
extreme,  which  was  increased  when  she  remarked  the 
dignity  of  his  address,  the  animation  and  even  the 
youthfulness  of  his  countenance.  This  queen  had  too 
much  intelligence  to  believe  hastily  ;  proof  alone  could 
compel  her  assent  ;  and  she  asked  him  many  questions 
about  the  old  court  of  Charlemagne,  and  received  such 
instructive  and  appropriate  answers  as  removed  every 
doubt.  It  is  to  the  corrections  which  Ogier  was  at 
that  time  enabled  to  make  to  the  popular  narratives  of 
his  exploits  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  perfect  accu- 
racy and  trustworthiness  of  all  the  details  of  our  own 
history. 

King  Hugh  Capet,  having  received  that  same  even- 
ing couriers  from  the  inhabitants  of  Chartres,  informing 
him  that  they  were  hard  pressed  by  the  besiegers, 
resolved  to  hasten  with  Ogier  to  their  relief. 

Ogier  terminated  this  affair  as  expeditiously  as  he 
had  so  often  done  others.  The  Saracens  having  dared 
to  offer  battle,  he  bore  the  Oriflamme  through  the 
thickest  of  their  ranks  ;  Papillon,  breathing  fire  from  his 
nostrils,  threw  them  into  disorder,  and  Cortana,  wielded 
by  his  invincible  arm,  soon  finished  their  overthrow. 

The  king,  victorious  over  the  Saracens,  led  back  the 
Danish  hero  to  Paris,  where  the  deliverer  of  France 
received  the  honors  due  to  his  valor.  Ogier  continued 
some  time  at  the  court,  detained  by  the  favor  of  the 


OGIER,    THE    DANE.  271 

king  and  queen  ;  but  erelong  he  had  the  pain  to  wit- 
ness the  death  of  the  king.  Then  it  was  that,  im- 
pressed with  all  the  perfections  which  he  had  discerned 
in  the  queen,  he  could  not  withhold  the  tender  homage 
of  the  offer  of  his  hand.  The  queen  would  perhaps 
have  accepted  it,  she  had  even  called  a  meeting  of  her 
great  barons  to  deliberate  on  the  proposition,  when, 
the  day  before  the  meeting  was  to  be  held,  at  the 
moment  when  Ogier  was  kneeling  at  her  feet,  she  per- 
ceived a  crown  of  gold  which  an  invisible  hand  had 
placed  on  his  brow,  and  in  an  instant  a  cloud  enveloped 
Ogier,  and  he  disappeared  forever  from  her  sight.  It 
was  Morgana,  the  fairy,  whose  jealousy  was  awakened 
at  what  she  beheld,  who  now  resumed  her  power,  and 
took  him  away  to  dwell  with  her  in  the  island  of  Ava- 
lon.  There,  in  company  with  the  great  King  Arthur 
of  Britain,  he  still  lives,  and  when  his  illustrious  friend 
shall  return  to  resume  his  ancient  reign  he  will  doubt- 
less return  with  him,  and  share  his  triumph. 

THE    END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 

University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •  Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


APPi 


?005 


280 


UCLA-College  Library 

PN  687  C3B81 1901 


L  005  666  369  3 


COLLEGE 

LIB 

PN 
687 


1901 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY .FACILITY 


A     001  107  240     2 


[nivers: 
Soutl 
Libi 


